Grantee Highlight: Mobile Area Council Boy Scouts of America, 2021 Closing the Opportunity Gap

The Mobile Area Council Boy Scouts of America (the Council) was awarded $15,000 last summer from the Community Foundation of South Alabama’s (CFSA) 2021 Closing the Opportunity Gap Initiative. Grant funds were used to support camp scholarships and registration fees in efforts to provide Scouting opportunities to local underserved youth. Through the “Scoutreach” program, the Council was able to offer camp scholarships to 60 Scouts this summer.

Through CFSA grant funding, the Council is making great strides to close the opportunity gap. The “Scoutreach” program provides impactful opportunities such as arts and crafts, BB shooting and Archery, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) activities for diverse communities. Over 73% of all cub scouts and Scouts BSA were able to participate in a day camp or summer camp experience. Scouting data shows that if a scout attends camp, there is at least a three-to-four-year retention rate of the youth remaining in Scouting.

CFSA is proud to support organizations like the Mobile Area Council Boy Scouts of America. We believe that children in our communities deserve every opportunity to reach their full potential. Our goal is to ensure that all kids in Southwest Alabama have the opportunity to thrive, from cradle to career.

For more information on Closing the Opportunity Gap, click here https://www.communityfoundationsa.org/opportunity-youth