December 2019

Dear Friend of the Bronxville Scout Cabin,

Can you think of any organization that serves our youth as well as Scouting?

In the past year, we at the Bronxville Scout Committee have enabled a diverse group of boys and young men from Mount Vernon, Yonkers, Eastchester, Larchmont, and Bronxville to participate in Scouting – and in so doing, become better young adults, responsible citizens, and future leaders.

Year in and year out, hundreds of Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts come our way. In the safety of our wonderful Scout Cabin, and in the field under the supervision of our experienced adult leaders, these boys and young men are sheltered from the many distractions and bad influences of our world.

Where else will they learn the values that Scouting teaches?

In the last several years, many young men from the several Troops that make their home in our Cabin have earned the high honor of Eagle Scout. These young men, many from disadvantaged neighborhoods, have now gone off to college; many have already graduated.  They are carrying their Scout values with them on their road to becoming future leaders, fathers, and role models.

We in Bronxville Scouting need your help to keep Scouting Values alive.

Since I last wrote to you, we’ve had to spend $11,040 on a tree surgeon, to remove the many tree limbs that were threatening to crash into the cabin with the next storm; $3,500 on moving the oil tank a protected area away from the weather; $510 + plumbing costs on a new refrigerator, and more.

While these renovations and repairs are costly, the Bronxville Scout Committee does not receive any outside support towards our annual operating expenses, which, due to increases in the costs of energy, insurance, and maintenance, easily exceed over $40,000 each year.

These additional renovations to the cabin were donated: filling in the ravine and creating a Scout campfire area between the cabin and the river (thanks to the generosity of Chris Higgins), and replacing rotten exterior siding and repainting the cabin exterior (thanks to the generosity of Scouts and Parents).

Besides dues paid by the Scouts, our only outside income is from the weekend rentals of the cabin, and this fundraising letter.

Without your support, it would be impossible for our Committee to serve our local boys and young men. It is far too costly.

Don’t you think the world needs more of Scouting? Can we ask for your generous help in supporting the Scouting mission?

In 2004 we established the William (Bill) Sanford Scouting Endowment Fund, to which many have donated. An Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver Award recipient, Bill was a lifelong friend of Scouting. We continue to accept additional contributions in his memory. His family will be duly notified of your generous support.

The Bucca Family has also established the Ronald Bucca Memorial Fund to honor Ronald’s memory and to provide funds for leadership training. Ron had great respect for the Scouts and their values. Fire Marshall Ron Bucca was a Troop 2 Leader who died heroically while rescuing workers at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. We also continue to accept additional donations in his memory and will notify his widow and children – one of who is serving his country by following his father’s path into the military – of your generous support.

To those of you who have donated in the past, we are most grateful for your loyal support of Scouting in our area. To past donors, and to new ones, we turn to you today to ask for your help. Please assist us in our mission to continue to provide the high level of services we provide for hundreds of Scouts, and their dozens of adult leaders, each and every year.

Can you offer a donation today to support your local Scouts? (It is tax-deductible to the extent of the law).  We assure you that your gift will be carefully used to benefit the many boys and young men of your community who have chosen to pursue the noble path of Scouting.

God Bless America,

Howard Rakov, President
Bronxville Scout Committee