Fund Raising - Materials
(Updated: 09/20/09)

Here are some of the materials the boys will be using for fund raising this year:

This is a sample email one of the parents has used in the past to notify his neighborhood in advance that they were sending out scouts to do fund raising. Please consider having a scout's parent use whatever parts they are comfortable with. This is mearly a sample, if you use it remember to replace text marked with <> with names that apply to you.

Subject: Boy Scouts and fund raising

Neighbors,

Last year two of the scouts from local Troop 399 that live here in <my neighborhood name> participated in our annual fund raiser and the community was very generous, thank you. It has been a challenging year for everyone, but we hope that you can support scouting again this year. Scouting is one of the few programs available to our youth that teaches them leadership over the course of a several year program. For a scout to advance from first class to Star, then Life and eventually Eagle it is required that he be a leader in the troop. The troop and our local council both have programs to teach our boys how to become effective leaders.

No program available to our youth can match the success of scouting when it comes to producing leaders. Bill Gates Sr. was an Eagle Scout, his more famous son, Bill Jr., followed in his footsteps and achieved Life then left for college and founded Microsoft. Michael Bloomberg the Mayor of NYC and one of the world most successful businessmen is also an Eagle scout. Finally former President Gerald Ford was our first Eagle to reach the nations top office. Scouting works.

In <my neighborhood name> we have at least <number> scouts actively working the path to Eagle, <names>. These boys joined local Troop 399 in <year>, and have proceeded through the rank of <rank> and continue advancing through the program.

Once a year we ask our boys to participate in fund raising for two reasons, obviously to raise money, but more importantly to teach our boys how to sell. Sales is an integral part of our culture, everyone is in sales, from our teachers selling their knowledge to students to every mom whose tried to get a three year old to eat his veggies. Being able to sell is a vital part of becoming a successful member of our community.

This year our boys are selling Butter Braids and fresh cut Wreaths. The Butter Braids are a 22oz. pastry that comes frozen. Most parents take them out Christmas eve, let them rise overnight, then put them in
the oven as everyone is getting up Christmas morning. Once the gift giving is complete then everyone can continue the celebration over a nice warm pastry.

Our scouts will be knocking on your door this week and asking for your support. When you buy from a Boy Scout you may get a pastry or a wreath, but more importantly you're telling the boys through your actions, words, and dollars that you support scouting.

Thank you for your time and support.

<your name>
www.BSA399.com