Celebration to support Boy Scouts
When the Boy Scouts of America — Southern Sierra Council decided to postpone its annual Distinguished Citizens Dinner, that didn’t mean there wasn’t one last fundraiser in store for 2020. Enter the Good Scout Celebration, a takeout event scheduled for Dec. 3.
For the past four years the local Scouting council has held the fundraising dinner recognizing pillars of the community who are known for their contributions.
Randy Saunders, Scout executive, said they initially planned to still hold an adjusted dinner for the latest honorees, Jon and Phillis Van Boening, working with Luigi’s, where previous events have been held.
“They really worked with us to try and make it happen this fall,” Saunders said of the restaurant. “But we kept hitting COVID-related stumbles.”
Plans were made to recognize the couple in 2021 but there is still the budget shortfall. Like most organizations this year, the Southern Sierra Council is operating at a deficit.
Thus the Good Scout Celebration was created, offering people a chance to enjoy a family meal from Luigi’s and support local Scouts.
Whereas the dinner might have raised $100,000, the goal for the celebration is $50,000.
Dinner is $70 for a meal that will feed four: rosemary chicken, pasta topped with Luigi’s white sauce, spinach salad and Pyrenees sourdough dinner rolls. (A vegetarian lasagna is an entree
option for vegetarians.)
In addition to the meal, there are three levels of sponsorship: Tenderfoot scout ($250) includes dinner and funds one Scout for a year; second class scout ($1,000) includes dinner for the sponsor as well as a meal for four for local Scout leader and family; and first class scout ($1,500) includes dinners for sponsor and Scout leader and a bottle of
wine for the sponsor.
Proceeds from the celebration will go primarily to supporting operation costs, Saunders said. That includes the Southern Sierra Council’s center, Scouting activities as well as training and resources for the small support staff. Some money is also earmarked for families with needs who don’t have the funds for Scouting events.