Boy Scouts of America Named "Best of America" by Reader's Digest Magazine
Nation's Largest Youth Service Organization Named "Best Mother-Son Finish"
IRVING, TEXAS (April 11, 2006) The nation's leading youth service
organization, the Boy Scouts of America, has been named to the "Best of
America" list compiled by Reader's Digest magazine.
The BSA is ranked No. 9 on the list under the category "Legacies" for the
pinewood derby(R) as "Best Mother-Son Finish." The pinewood derby, held
annually by Cub Scout packs throughout the country, is a program designed
to encourage parents to spend time with their children while building a race
car made out of a block of wood. Powered only by gravity, the cars are raced
down tracks during organized pack "derbies," which help develop healthy
competition, participation, and creativity. Awards are given for finishing
first, as well as for placing and creative car design.
After speaking to hundreds of experts and ordinary folk, Reader's
Digest editors tested, tasted, and debated everything from the Best
Sandwich to the Best Must-Have Gadgets to the Best Buzz Cut. The resulting
list is organized in six categories: Legacies, Passions, Adventure, Innovations,
Time Off, and Connections.
For nearly a century, the BSA has been known as the country's leading program
of youth character development through its values-based leadership training.
The Best of America distinction reflects the organization's continued
commitment to developing the leaders of tomorrow and fostering an environment
of learning and growth for each participant.
"We are honored and excited to be part of Reader's Digest's Best of
America list this year," said Roy L. Williams, Chief Scout Executive of the
BSA. "Since the early days of pinewood derby in the 1950s, the event has
fostered parent interaction and participation, and we are pleased that this
sense of involvement has been recognized by a publication as distinguished
as Reader's Digest."
Reader's Digest reaches about 80 million readers worldwide each month.
The magazine celebrates ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and delivers
a compelling mix of humor, personal service, and other human-interest stories.
Reader's Digest is published in 20 languages and 50 editions
worldwide.
Serving nearly 4.5 million young people between 7 and 20 years of age with
more than 300 councils throughout the United States and its territories, the
Boy Scouts of America is the nation's foremost youth program of character
development and values-based leadership training. For more information on
the BSA, please visit www.scouting.org.
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