Restoring the Village
The Gulf Stream Council's Restoring the Village Reception, held on April 25th, 2025, was a landmark community event. Under the leadership of Kevin Anderson, Esq., the event impressively raised over $92,000. Honorees of the night, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Retired Judge Moses Baker, Jr., and Eugene Mann, were celebrated for their significant contributions to the scouting community.
The occasion was marked by live performances from J.R. Apollon/Spirit & Soul, photography by John Gilmore, and a vibrant color guard presented by Troop 116 and Troop 4116. The program also featured speeches from Scouts and recognized three board members with Good Turn Society distinctions.
Yasmine Julmisse from 25 WPBF graced the event as the Mistress of Ceremonies, enhancing its distinguished atmosphere.
The successful turnout and substantial funds raised are testament to the event's positive reception and its achievement in supporting Scouting initiatives in Belle Glade and Riviera Beach. It is truly uplifting to witness the community uniting to back such initiatives and to commend individuals who contribute positively.
Restoring the Village Focus
The Gulf Stream Council's initiative to extend Scouting's reach to all youth encompasses Belle Glade and Riviera Beach, Florida, where many promising individuals face daunting challenges. These difficulties, including poverty, violence, crime, gang involvement, and limited parental engagement, significantly impede their prospects for future success, perpetuating a cycle of despair across generations.
Our mission is to forge a meaningful alliance among Scouting, community leaders, and at-risk youth, empowering young people in struggling neighborhoods with essential values, resources, opportunities, and mentors to cultivate a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
Our Solution involves the Restoring the Village initiative, which aims to alter young people's perspectives by offering a more fulfilling alternative to the transient excitement and enduring hardship associated with street life. While traditional Scouting units often rely on parental volunteers for leadership, Restoring the Village adapts to the realities of single-parent households by engaging positive community figures as volunteers. These leaders, supported by scouting professionals, impart crucial life skills, outdoor experiences, career readiness, a dedication to community service, and a positive mindset, instilling in their charges the ethos of being "Prepared. For Life."
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| Restoring the Village | Download |
Annual Restoring The Village Dinner
Each year, at our esteemed Annual Restoring The Village Dinner, alongside our distinguished Guest Speaker (TBA), we proudly bestow the prestigious Whitney M. Young Jr Service Award and the William H. Spurgeon III Service Award upon deserving recipients.
About the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award
This award honors exceptional service by adults or organizations who have shown remarkable commitment to the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban backgrounds.2024 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Awardees:
- Eugene Mann - Retired Judge
- Moses Baker, Jr.
About the William H. Spurgeon III Service Award
Similarly, this award stands as the pinnacle of recognition for individuals and organizations who have demonstrated significant leadership in the Exploring Program. Instituted in 1971, this award pays tribute to the remarkable contributions of those, like William H. Spurgeon III himself, who have played a pivotal role in advancing special interest Exploration initiatives.2024 William H. Spurgeon III Awardee:
- Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office