Melaleuca donates $3.5 Million to Grand Teton Council - East Idaho News
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Melaleuca donates $3.5 Million to Grand Teton Council

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IDAHO FALLS – Melelauca CEO Frank VanderSloot announced Melaleuca is donating 3.5 million dollars to the Boy Scouts of America Grand Teton Council.

VanderSloot presented the 3.5 million dollar check to the Grand Teton Council during a ceremony at the 23rd annual Melaleuca Freedom Celebration Saturday night.

Last month, Scout Executive Clarke Farrer reached out in a letter to Frank VanderSloot to request VanderSloot’s help in attaining funds to build or purchase a new Teton Council headquarters and service center. In the letter, Farrer explained the Teton Council’s ten-year quest to upgrade the Scout’s head offices.

For the last 50 years the Teton Council has been located in a facility owned by the City of Idaho Falls on 4th Street. Melaleuca’s 3.5 million dollar donation is Melaleuca’s response to Clarke Farrer’s letter. It is anticipated that the donation will pay for almost the entire facility.

“The Boy Scouts of America is a wonderful organization that builds character and the values of service, respect, honesty and citizenship” VanderSloot said. “At Melaleuca, we share those core values and we are honored to give them this donation to help them further their mission.”

The Grand Teton Council delivers programs of the Boy Scouts of America to youth throughout southeastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and southwestern Montana. More than 11,000 volunteers help serve the nearly 20,000 boys registered to the Scouting programs.

“Since its beginning, Melaleuca has always supported the Boy Scouts of America and its involvement in the community,” Grand Teton Council Scout Executive Clarke Farrer said. “We are deeply grateful and extremely overwhelmed by this donation. It’s an incredible gesture.”

VanderSloot has long been a supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. In 2008, the Grand Teton Council awarded him with the Silver Beaver – the highest national honor it can bestow – for his significant contribution to scouting. VanderSloot says he considers it an honor to be a key participant in the annual Scouting for Food campaign and other scouting programs.

“The purpose of the Grand Teton Council, and of the Scouting Program in general, is to teach young men the ethics, principles, and life skills that will help them become future leaders leaders of character in their homes, their communities, and their nation,” VanderSloot said. “We are hopeful that this donation will help them fulfill that purpose.”

Building Request Letter from Clarke Farrer to Frank VanderSloot

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