The 14th Annual Friends of Scouting Luncheon will take place at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 11:30 a.m. The luncheon, one of the largest fundraising events in the area, will bring together over 600 business and community leaders.
The support provided by luncheon guests and sponsors helps the Cherokee Area Council, Boy Scouts of America provide year-round programs, camps, and services to over 6,000 youth and adults in the Greater Metro area. The financial support generated by the Luncheon also helps ensure that no child is turned away from Scouting due to financial challenges.
Acclaimed writer, speaker, and philanthropist Terry L. Fossum will be the guest speaker this year. Mr. Fossum grew up in humble circumstances in the poorest city in the U.S. Instead of choosing a life of gangs and drugs, he joined Scouting. His involvement in Scouting inspired him to seek a future beyond his current life.
After graduating from college with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mr. Fossum joined the Air Force, where he received numerous awards, including Officer of the Year. Following the Air Force, he built a global multimillion dollar direct sales business.
Mr. Fossum also defied the odds to win, along with his partner, one of the toughest survival contests on primetime network television. Using his Scouting and survival training skills, he and his partner won the contest, outlasting their competitors, which included warlord, a ninja, several U.S. Special Forces members, and two U.S. Air Force SERE Instructors.
After retiring from his business to spend more time with his wife and sons, Mr. Fossum focused his energy on philanthropic work. The results of his efforts include founding the Terry L. Fossum Learning Center, the Terry L. Fossum Scholarships for Underprivileged Youth, and providing agricultural training for Malawi, Africa.
Mr. Fossum is also the author of four highly-acclaimed books and an international speaker.
As a Scoutmaster, Mr. Fossum continues to actively support the mission and values of Scouting. He credits Scouting with changing his life and moving him along a path toward success. Scouting played key role in his life, and he believes it can do the same for other youth.
The Cherokee Area Council has served youth in the Greater Metro area since 1915. Today the Council serves over 5,000 youth and adults in 11 counties across Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. Scouting participants enjoy year-round Scouting programs, camps, character building and leadership development activities civic service, achievement recognition programs.