Heritage Society

“The past is our heritage, the present our opportunity, the future our hope.”

In an effort to encourage support for the endowment trust fund, the Pacific Skyline Council has established the Scouting Heritage Society. Its objective is to encourage men and women who believe in Scouting to invest in its future. These individuals will be acknowledged as lifetime members of the Scouting Heritage Society. Their names will be posted to the Council’s upcoming “Endowing Scouting’s Next 100 Year” online list of endowment donors.

Meeting the Challenge

Character building, citizenship training, and fitness have been the objectives of the Boy Scouts of America since 1910. Achievement of these objectives will be of even greater importance in the years ahead. The Scouts of today, if properly trained, will be the leaders of tomorrow in business, education, government, and all walks of life. Bringing the benefits of Scouting to the family, community, nation and the world presents a great challenge for today and in the years ahead. Achievement of our objectives largely depends on the scope and vigor of the Scouting program.

Program Objectives

Scouting, serving thousands of young men and women in our council today, strives to develop youth who are morally straight. Duty to God and country is a fundamental principal of the Scouting program. Camping, conservation, leadership training, family activities, career exploration, progressive program development for handicapped and disadvantaged people, in addition to community service projects, combine to accomplish Scouting’s objectives.

Perpetuating Scouting’s Future

Maintaining and expanding our outreach program to youth will become increasingly difficult in the years ahead. Innovative and relevant programs, to attract and hold youth, will require new and increased financial support. Funding the traditional sources becomes more challenging each year. In response to this challenge, the Pacific Skyline Council is committed to further develop and expand the endowment trust fund with your gifts of $1,000 or more to the James E. West Fellowship/Endowment Award. Its aim is to provide increased operating income. This fund, which is permanent and professionally managed, with a board approved percentage of earned income used annually for the support of the council’s Scouting program. Your contributions remain locally in our council’s endowment fund providing financial resources to Peninsula Scouting in perpetuity.

Additionally, your cumulative gifts of $25,000 or more to the Second Century Society and Presidents Leadership Council for operating, capital, or endowment are also eligible for membership in the Scouting Heritage Society.

Tax Savings From Gifts

Our tax and estate laws encourage individual philanthropy by providing for generous financial incentives that can benefit contributors who share their resources with the Boy Scouts of America. Although the council is willing to provide and assist with helpful information, you are encouraged to consult your attorney, trust officer, or tax counselor to secure specific information on the tax consequences of your gift.

Society Members also receive invitations to special members-only events and receptions at National Meetings, Jamborees, and other major Scouting events.

Donors wishing to make a gift to the James E. West Fellowship, Second Century Society, or Presidents Leadership Council should call the Pacific Skyline Council’s Scout Executive, Brian Curtis, or Development Director, Wendy Chien, at the Council’s Foster City headquarters – (650) 341-5633.

To learn more, see the Types of Donations or download, Giving Questions – Scouting Answers, the current version of one of our most popular donor-oriented  publications.  It covers many difference types of planned gifts and giving opportunities for gifts both large and small. If you would like a hard copy of the publication, please send an email with your name, mailing address and telephone number to 031developmentcommittee@scouting.org

Lord Baden Powell’s last message to Scouts:

(Found amongst B-P’s papers after his death.)

The real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. “Be Prepared” in this way, to live happy and to die happy—stick to your Scout promise always—even after you have ceased to be a boy—and God help you to do it.

Your Friend, Robert Baden-Powell