Metroplex Atheists "If you're interested in us, we're interested in you!" Letter to United Way Feel free to modify this letter to suit your local United Way's policies and send it to your local city council. Check the policies at your local community. Here in Tarrant County, it's spelled out on their web page. August 18, 2000 Councilperson X/Board of Director City of Y / Company Y, TX 7zzzz RE: United Way funds Boy Scouts of America, Inc. Dear Mr. X: Your city/company actively raises funds for United Way. United Way helps fund an organization that directly violates United Way’s own funding eligibility requirements, The Boy Scouts of America, Inc. (BSA) The eligibility requirements for United Way’s Community Initiatives Fund states that funds are not available for “programs which provide services only to members of a particular religious belief, or which require that the client belong to or actively participate in a specific religious activity as a condition of receiving service.” The BSA actively discriminates against atheists and gays. The Boy Scouts wants to be a public accommodation by receiving United Way support, but they also want to be a private organization that can discriminate against certain groups. The net effect is that United Way money is funding discrimination. I do not tolerate discrimination and am very disappointed with the local United Way’s decision to continue funding an organization that discriminates against atheists and gays. While United Way does provide many community partners with much needed funding, I encourage you to withdraw your city/company’s support of United Way until United Way decides to enforce the eligibility requirements concerning their own partners or until the Boy Scouts of America complies with United Way policies and eliminates their policy of exclusion based on religion. Several cities and United Way Chapters agree with me and have stopped funding the Boy Scouts until their discriminatory requirements are abolished. I sincerely hope your city/company chooses to stop tolerating discrimination. If you require more information regarding the discriminatory practices of the BSA, please contact me and I will be more than happy to provide you with further information. Sincerely, Citizen X Address Phone number Return to the Metroplex Atheists main page