February 18, 2020 at 5:43 PM EST – Updated February 18 at 5:43 PM
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy. The announcement Tuesday comes as the organization faces hundreds of lawsuits from men who claim they were assaulted by scout leaders when they were children.
The group hopes to set up a trust to compensate victims.
A statement from the local chapter clarifies the Cape Fear Council is legally separate and financially independent from the national organization.
You can read the full statement from Boy Scouts Cape Fear Council CEO Jonathan P. Widmark below.
“The Cape Fear Council has not filed for bankruptcy. Meetings and activities, district and council events, other Scouting adventures and countless service projects are taking place as usual. In short, there should be no change to the local Scouting experience.
The national organization of the Boy Scouts of America is the only entity involved in the Chapter 11 filing. The Cape Fear Council – which provides programming, financial, facility and administrative support to local units and individual Scouts in our area – is separate and distinct from the national organization. Our camps, properties and all local contributions are controlled by our council.”
The group also posted a video to their Facebook page Tuesday discussing how the national bankruptcy filing has been anticipated for about a year now. The post also describes how scouting is safer than ever before and directs parents to resources on their website.
A Message From The Council Key 3
Today, the national organization of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to achieve two key objectives: equitably compensate victims who were harmed during their time in Scouting and continue to carry out Scouting’s mission for years to come. I want to highlight important points that are most relevant to the Cape Fear Council: • The Cape Fear Council has not filed for bankruptcy. Our Council is legally separate, distinct and financially independent from the national organization. • Scouting programs will continue. This means that unit meetings and activities, district and council events, other Scouting adventures and countless service projects will take place as usual. In short, we expect no changes to the local Scouting experience in southeastern North Carolina. • Scouting is safer now than ever before. Over many years, we’ve developed some of the strongest expert-informed youth protection policies found in any youth-serving organization. I can also assure you that our volunteers and employees take youth protection extremely seriously and do their part to help keep kids safe. • Restricted donations – past, present or future – can only be used for their designated purpose. In addition, Investment in Character and other annual donations made to our Council will continue to fund necessary day-to-day expenses that are critical to local Scouting programs. While we do not anticipate the national organization’s bankruptcy filing will have any direct impact on the local Scouting experience or your involvement with our Council, I understand you may still have questions about these issues and things you will see in the news. To that end, the national organization has established a dedicated restructuring website, www.BSArestructuring.org. This site includes a helpful Resources page, where you will find a short video explaining what Chapter 11 means for Scouting, as well as a FAQ. The site’s Milestones page will be your best source for the latest updates throughout this process. If you have any questions about local Scouting, you can always feel free to reach out directly to me or your usual contact within our Council. Through your engagement and dedication to Scouting, the Cape Fear Council will continue to bring adventures, values and lifelong benefits to youth and our communities for generations to come. Thank you for your trust and support as we continue this important mission.
Posted by Cape Fear Council – Boy Scouts of America on Tuesday, February 18, 2020
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