The Tecumseh Tribe of Pack 358 today announced that in gratitude for their historic Half to Heroes initiative, the Indiana National Guard sponsored an all-day tour on Saturday, May 19th, of the Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center near Edinburgh, Indiana, for the Scouts, their leaders and parents. The special tour included watching rescue dogs in action, climbing on board a Blackhawk helicopter, eating lunch with the troops, and watching soldiers training in special simulators as they prepare for deployment in Afghanistan.
“It was very meaningful for our Scouts to meet their heroes in person and to learn firsthand how much the soldiers appreciate the Scouts’ generosity through the Half to Heroes program,” said Cubmaster Tom Sugar, the leader of the Tecumseh Tribe Cub Scouts. “Besides that, we all had a lot of fun!”
In recognition of Veterans Day last year, nearly 90 Cub Scouts from the Tecumseh Tribe of Pack 358 contributed over $1,350 in hard-earned popcorn sales rewards to the Indiana National Guard Relief Fund as part of their inaugural Half to Heroes effort to help needy soldiers and their families. Officials at the national Boy Scout headquarters know of no other time when Scouts have ever parted with their personal rewards from popcorn sales to benefit others.
“The values of Scouting are the values of the Indiana National Guard: selfless service, respect, duty,” said Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, Adjutant General of the Indiana National Guard. “These young men and their families have honored us, and their compassion for our Soldiers and Airmen is greatly appreciated.”
Each fall, Scouts knock on doors in their communities to sell popcorn to benefit Scouting programs at the national, state and local level. As an incentive for selling, Scouts can earn gift cards from Amazon or Walmart. For example, a Scout who sells between $250 and $349 in popcorn earns a gift card worth $10. The rewards become larger with increased sales.
In an effort to underscore Scouting’s core values of selflessness and service to others, the Scouts were challenged at last September’s popcorn sales kick-off to pledge to give at least half of any earned rewards to help soldiers and their families. Accordingly, the campaign was named Half to Heroes. During their weeks of door-to-door sales, the Scouts wore “I’m giving Half to Heroes” stickers, generously provided by Print Resources, Inc.
At their school’s annual Veterans Day assembly last November, the Scouts culminated their weeks of work by donating over $1,350 in earned rewards to needy soldiers and military families by placing their gift cards in an upturned soldier’s helmet as members of the Indiana National Guard looked on. Most of the Scouts ultimately decided to contribute all of their gift card earnings, not just half. Individual contributions ranged from $10 to $160 in gift card donations. The Union Elementary School community in Zionsville was inspired by the Half to Heroes effort, purchasing $30,000 in popcorn from the Scouts this year – an over 66% increase in sales from 2010.
“The generosity of the Scouts from the Tecumseh Tribe of Cub Scout Pack 358 proves they know firsthand the promise to ‘help other people’ is an important part of the Scout movement,” said Scott Clabaugh, head Scout Executive in Central Indiana, who was on hand for the Veterans Day event. “Crossroads of America Council salutes these Scouts for making service to others a real part of their lives.”
The Scouts’ contributions to the Indiana National Guard Relief Fund were significantly boosted when representatives of Amazon and Walmart each contributed $1,000, raising the campaign’s total gift to over $3,350.
The Tecumseh Tribe of Pack 358 hopes to serve as an example to Scouts across the state and country, and intends to encourage other Scouts to give Half to Heroes in 2012.