Boy Scouts Spirit of Adventure Council Salute to Scouting

The Boy Scouts Spirit of Adventure Council hosted its 43rd annual Salute to Scouting Dinner at the Boston Harbor Hotel. The signature fundraising event drew a crowd of about 300 business and civic leaders and raised more than $320,000 to support Boy Scout programs in Boston, Cambridge, Quincy, Lawrence, Chelsea and all cities and towns within the Spirit of Adventure Council region. Rev. Irene Monroe of Cambridge, WGBH radio host, syndicated columnist and acclaimed lesbian feminist activist, led the event as Master of Ceremonies. The 2019 Salute to Scouting featured a moving tribute honoring the late Marshall Sloane, the Century Bank founder who served on the Boy Scouts board locally and nationally for more than 60 years. A story was recounted of how Marshall once provided new uniforms to two Chelsea brothers after learning the boys could not afford two Scout uniforms. Rev. Monroe invited the Sloane family to the stage and announced the creation of the Marshall and Barbara Sloane Uniform Fund to honor Marshall’s legacy.

The event also honored the diverse teens who earned their Eagle Scout rank this year and featured a science fair within the gala showcasing various Eagle Scout projects. Guests were given time ample time to meet the Eagle Scouts and learn about their impactful projects. Jeffrey Gomez of Chelsea is among the Eagle Scouts who attended. Jeffrey earned his Eagle Scout rank this year and his project was to build birdhouses for saltmarsh sparrows. Jeffrey will place the birdhouses for the sparrows in March.

“These Eagle Scouts our future leaders and we are proud to honor their work and dedication to Scouting,” said Boy Scouts Spirit of Adventure Council Chief Executive Chuck Eaton. “We are thankful to Rev. Monroe for leading this wonderful tribute which recognizes a new era for Scouting, one in which our character-building program benefits all youth, regardless of gender, race or faith.”

“I was honored to be the Master of Ceremonies because the Boy Scouts Spirit of Adventure Council molds young Scouts with values and confidence to be future leaders,” said Rev. Irene Monroe. Rev. Irene Monroe is a nationally acclaimed activist, ordained minister, lesbian feminist public theologian, motivational speaker and preacher. Rev. Monroe is co-host of ALL REV’D UP on WGBH (89.7 FM) in Boston, a member station of National Public Radio (NPR). ALL REV’D UP was recently launched as an NPR podcast to rave reviews, as Rev. Monroe and Rev. Emmett Price III use their different black faith perspectives to explore where faith intersects politics.