For 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America have dedicated services to communities across the country.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over four million youth members in its age-related divisions. Since its founding in 1910 as part of the international Scout Movement, more than 110 million Americans have been members of the BSA.

A brief Google search returned a list of fairly impressive names who cite themselves as former Scouts.

Hank Aaron, baseball’s former home run king, cited his involvement in Scouting as the biggest positive influence in his life.

Astronaut Neil Armstrong was a Scout; made it to Eagle. John F. Kennedy is a former Boy Scout. Former president George W. Bush was a Cub Scout as was Bill Clinton. So was country superstar George Strait.

I remember being a Cub Scout when I was little and that’s probably where my similarities to presidents Clinton and Bush and George Strait end.

I never advanced much further in the ranks thanks in large part to baseball season, basketball season and having the attention span of a little boy.

Currently, the Black Warrior Council – which oversees Troops and Packs in Demopolis – is in the final stages of its annual fundraising campaign.

With a goal approximately $44,000 this year, the Black Warrior Council sits about halfway to their goal with six weeks left to push.

It costs $360 annually to provide for two boys in Scouting each year.

The push is currently on to provide for as many local scouts as feasible. If you would like to make a contribution to the Scouts, I urge you contact Terri Gregson.

She can be reached via email at terri.gregson@scouting.org or you may call her at 334-341-9499.

If you prefer, you can take advantage of a partnership between the Demopolis Times and the Black Warrior Council. From now to May 10, we will donate $15 from every $60 annual subscription directly to the local Scouting organization. We’ve dubbed this our “Always Be Informed” promotion.

You may contact Ms. Gregson for more information about this special or you may call us here at the office.

We will arrange your subscription and coordinate your donation immediately.

All donations, both large and small, will go a long way toward helping Scouts reach their goals. Those goals include hopes and dreams that lead these young boys to the White House, the Grand Ole Opry and Cooperstown.

Jason Cannon is publisher of the Demopolis Times.