National Chief and Vice Chief Recognized with Legacy Fellowship
On Sunday, July 29th, National Chief Anthony Peluso and National Vice Chief Michael Kipp were recognized as Legacy Fellows for their service to the Order of the Arrow. “It’s humbling to be included among a group of such generous men and women,” said Peluso. “Being a Legacy Fellow, to me, is more than an honor. It’s about the remarkable people who help ensure our Order will be around for years to come.”
The Legacy Fellowship is awarded to an individual for a gift of $1,000 or more to the National Order of the Arrow Endowment. It may be for an individual donation or a donation in honor of someone else. By supporting the endowment, a donor or group of donors has the opportunity to help Scouts across the nation. Funding from the endowment supports the Order’s programs including the Josh R. Sain Memorial Scholarships, lodge service grants, OA High Adventure and the National Scout Jamboree OA programs.
Peluso and Kipp were presented with the awards, which were donated by OA National Committeemen as a challenge to others to fully support the National OA Endowment. Without the eight-million-dollar Endowment, Order of the Arrow programs would likely not be as robust as they are today. Endowment donations are different than other donations in that the base amount of the donation is never spent, rather the funds are invested and the interest earned on those investments is used to support the program.
One of the best opportunities to give a Legacy Fellowship is right here at NOAC at the Legacy Center, located at the Trading Post in the Alumni Hall at the Indiana Memorial Union. Membership is open to youth and adult members who have been recognized with the James E. West Fellowship, which is an award given to those who have supported their local council’s endowment with a contribution of $1,000 or more. The Legacy Center can also process payments for James E. West Fellowships so there are no roadblocks to becoming a Legacy Fellow at this conference.
Learn more about the National OA Endowment here.