United Way of Union County Statement on February 25 Columbus Dispatch Article Brad Gibson, Board President and Shari Marsh, Executive Director United Way of Union County February 26, 2004

The United Way of Union County and the Boy Scouts Simon Kenton Council share a rich history of serving the youth of Union County, dating back to 1958. Boy Scouts is an original Member Agency of our organization and has received United Way funding on a yearly basis. The Scouting Program helps to shape the lives of young men and women in our community, infusing them with necessary life skills that will stay with them well beyond their days in scouting. Nearly 700 Union County youth participate in the Cub Scouts, the Boy Scouts, or the Exploring and Venturing Program, learning the values of the Scout Oath and Law. They receive character building and leadership skills through these activities. The Boy Scouts Simon Kenton Council continues to be a valued partner of the United Way of Union County and an organization that is vital to our community. “The Volunteer Board of the United Way of Union County has not considered and is not intending to cut its own financial support for Boy Scouts programming in Union County.” On Wednesday February 25, the Columbus Dispatch published an article titled, “Policy on gays could cost Scouts big money”. Portions of the same article were reprinted via the Associated Press in the Marysville Journal-Tribune the same day. Stories about the issue also aired on local television stations. The article centered around a new nondiscrimination policy adopted by the United Way of Central Ohio that may or may not result in funding cuts by that organization to the Boy Scouts Simon Kenton Council. It should be noted that the United Way of Central Ohio serves only Franklin County. The United Way of Union County is an independent, autonomous, locally run organization serving this community. The United Way of Union County has its own policies. Union County volunteers make the funding decisions based on this community’s needs. The United Way of Union County has had its own nondiscrimination policy in place for several years. Included in the Statement of Understanding between the United Way of Union County, Inc. and its Member Agencies, it reads as follows: “The agency must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex (gender), age, or national origin in its staffing policies, use of volunteers, or provision of services.” The Boy Scouts Simon Kenton Council has met and continues to meet all requirements necessary to be a Member Agency. It has been a valued partner for 46 years and does much to improve the lives of people in our community, fitting right in with our mission of improving the lives of people in our community by raising, collecting, and distributing funds. The volunteer Board of the United Way of Union County has not considered and is not intending to cut its own financial support for Boy Scouts programming in Union County. It regrets any confusion or ill feelings the Dispatch, Associated Press, and local television stories may have caused among the Boy Scouts, their supporters, and the investors and contributors of the United Way of Union County. Anyone who has additional questions or concerns about this issue is encouraged to call the United Way of Union County at 644-8381 or toll free at (877) 644-8381. Please feel free to copy/e-mail/forward this statement to whomever you believe should see it. In addition, we will be sending copies to the Boy Scouts Simon Kenton Council, local troop leaders, all United Way of Union County donors who designated to the Boy Scouts, and the local media. If you have any questions about this issue, please give Dave Bezusko a call at 644-8381 or email at unitedwayuc2@imetweb.net.