Wisconsin couple donates to BSA to counter city council's denial of proceeds (12717)

An elderly Madison, Wis., couple has donated $2,500 to the local chapter of the Boy Scouts of America following a city council decision last week that keeps organizers of a Fourth of July fund-raiser from donating any proceeds to the group because of the Boy Scouts' antigay policy. The council added a provision to its deal with the organizers barring them from donating to organizations that discriminate based on gender, race, or sexual orientation. The BSA national membership policy bars "avowed homosexuals."

But Maurice Reese, 83, cofounder of the former Lake City Bank, and his wife, Arlene, 81, said they believe in what the Boy Scouts organization does and have delivered a check for $2,500 to the Scouts' Four Lakes Council. The city of Madison gives $11,750 a year, plus at least $50,000 in donated police overtime costs, to the fund-raising event, called Rhythm & Booms. The Madison Fireworks Fund raises about $500,000 to fund the fireworks display every year, mostly through private donations. Rhythm & Booms organizers donated $22,818 last year to area charities, including $2,500 to the Scouts. Hundreds of Boy Scouts will once again help collect donations for local youth-oriented charities at the event this year, despite the council's action.