Boy Scouts Of America File For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Boy Scouts of America have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The bankruptcy protection filing comes as the organization faces numerous sexual abuse lawsuits.
Money has become tight for the Boy Scouts as their membership numbers decline and sexual abuse settlements grow across the country.
They are using the Chapter 11 process to create a victim compensation fund, which could be expected to pass $1 billion.
Court testimony showed that the Boy Scouts believe that more than 7,800 of its former leaders were involved in sexually abusing more than 12,000 children over seven decades.
In a statement on their website, the Boy Scouts say that local councils have not filed for bankruptcy, because they are legally separate from the national organization.
The Laurel Highlands Council, which covers most of the local area, will still be able to support the programs and troops.
They have released a statement that reads, in part, "This means that unit meetings and activities, district and council events, other Scouting adventures and countless service projects will take place as usual. In short, we expect no changes to the local Scouting experience in the council area."
Officials with the Laurel Highlands Council go on to say that a website has been set up to address some of the concerns the public might have.
"While we do not anticipate the national organization's bankruptcy filing will have any direct impact on the local Scouting experience or your involvement with our Council, I understand you may still have questions about these issues and things you will see in the news. To that end, the national organization has established a dedicated restructuring website, BSARestructuring.org."
You can visit that website by clicking here.
Visit the Laurel Highlands Council chapter website by clicking here.
