In 1946, Mrs. David H. Goodman gave a $1,000 to the Tidewater Council because she had a strong desire to see our Council prosper well into the future. This money was not, however, put in the trust fund because camp needed the money far more than the other operations of the Council at that time. She agreed and the money went to support the facilities at a camp then known as Panther Landing.

During the late 1940’s the Tidewater Council Executive Board talked about the establishment of a trust fund for the future of Scouting. In 1950 that fund was created. Today, the fund has about $600,000. Only the income and not the principal of this fund can be used for the purposes of Scouting.

A contribution today of $3,140.00 at a simple interest rate of 5% will yield $157.00. Currently, it takes $157 to deliver a program of Scouting to one youth for one year.

Today, and not tomorrow, is the time to do something about insuring the future of our Scouting program. The National Council, Boy Scouts of America has encouraged local Councils such as our Tidewater Council to remain a strong financial entity by increasing the size of our Endowment Fund. In order to reach the goal of approximately 12% of our operating funds being derived as Endowment income, we must raise a total fund worth $4,320,000 assuming a 5% annual return on investments. 

Today we enjoy the Scouting program in the Tidewater Council because many individuals have given their time, energy and talents to Scouting. The power of the Endowment Fund is the power to know that Scouting will remain firmly rooted within our community. The Tidewater Council is producing Eagle Scouts at the rate of about 1,000 per every ten years. As of December 31, 2007, over 5,000 young men have earned that right to be known as Eagle Scouts. Thousands of other youth have taken home the skills and the memories to guide them through their lives. What value can be placed on a program that generates so many community leaders?