O’Brien Mitsubishi grants helping fund Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts at-risk youth programs

Posted on September 16, 2016
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Both the at-risk youth programs have lost funding in recent years. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – The Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts of Central Illinois at-risk youth programs got a financial boost Friday from O’Brien Mitsubishi in Normal.

The Boy Scouts program, called ScoutREACH, is run through the W.D. Boyce Council. The program has lost $125,000 in funding in the last three years.

“This will go a long way in allowing us to remain a force with these young men,” said W.D. Boyce Scout Executive George Clay. “Our after school programs are so important in giving them opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise have.”

The Girl Scouts at-risk program is known as the Outreach program and has also lost funding. Girl Scouts Fund Development Professional Jenny Ewan explained their mission is “building girls with courage, confidence and character.”

“We want to do that not just in the traditional troop sense, but at the Boys & Girls Club, in the different community groups that we go to,” said Ewan. “It’s our most expensive program because it’s all staff driven.”

O’Brien Mitsubishi General Manager Ryan Gremore said he understands the hardships the groups are facing and hoped more businesses will be able to contribute.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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