Support Our Mission
Empower the Next Generation of Leaders
There are many ways to contribute to our mission. Whether through financial donations, memorial gifts, or volunteer efforts, your support helps us shape the future of youth in our community. Your contribution ensures that Scouts develop strong character, leadership skills, and a commitment to service. Discover how you can make a lasting impact today.
Attend an Upcoming Fundraising Event!
Friends of Scouting
Donate Now!
Council Development Contacts
Peter Durkin
Development Director
From endowments and tributes to non-monetary donations, every contribution counts. Explore the various ways you can give to support our programs and ensure the continued growth of Scouting in our community.
Find the Best Way to Contribute
Friends of Scouting
Friends of Scouting is the annual giving campaign of the Rainbow Council that helps provide the necessary funds to ensure a quality Scouting program for every youth.
Employer Match Program
Double your impact with employer matching programs. Many companies will match your donations to Scouting, amplifying your support. Contact your HR department to see if your employer offers a matching program.
James E West Fellowship
The James E West Fellowship Award recognizes donors who contribute at least $1000 or more in cash or securities to the Rainbow Council Endowment Fund above a typical Friends of Scouting donation. Awards can be made in honor of someone.
Non-Monetary Donations
We welcome donations of office supplies, camping gear, historical Scouting memorabilia, and more. We also appreciate contributions of services or items for our special events, such as our Annual Golf Classic or Sporting Clays event.
Current Fundraising Initiatives
Discover the powerful impact you can make by joining our ongoing and current fundraising initiatives. These special projects are more than just goals—they’re opportunities to transform the lives of our Scouts and strengthen the future of our community. Your support today will inspire tomorrow's leaders.
Merits for Scouting Sponsorship
The Rainbow Council Merit Badge Sponsorship Program provides opportunities for Scouts to grow physically, mentally, and morally. By attending Scouting’s structured, safe activities, youth members do not have as much idle time to explore drugs, alcohol, or find themselves in as many peer pressure activities. The Scouting program is a year-round effort because the pressures on our young people increase every day. There is no better time than now to help guide youth in positive directions.
Your partnership will positively affect our 2,200 Scout families in our 3 counties of Grundy, Kankakee and Will.
Annual Sporting Clays Classic
Saturday, September 27, 2025
The Rainbow Council, Sporting Clays Classic is open to individuals, as well as teams. All individuals will be placed on teams the day of the shoot. Teams will attempt 100 rounds of sporting clays at 14 stations. Register your team!
Teams will be limited to a max of 4 participants per team.
• On-site registration begins at 8:30 am
• Lunch Served on the course at 11:00 am
• Stations Open at 9:00 am
Personal golf carts and ATV’s are permitted and encouraged. There are very limited rentals available on-site.
All participants will receive a hat, gift bag, lunch served on the course, plus a tailgate style meal and drinks after the event.
Would you like to provide a service, donate food or swag or otherwise sponsor the event? We have several tiers available. Learn more!
Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner
Join us October 29th as we honor Tom and Michelle Vana
Rainbow Council, Scouting America is proud to announce that longtime community leaders and philanthropists Tom and Michele Vana will be honored with the Distinguished Citizen Award at this year’s annual dinner. The event will take place on, Wednesday October 29th, at Tuscany Falls Banquets in Mokena.
The Distinguished Citizen Award is presented to individuals who exemplify the values of Scouting through their outstanding service and leadership in the community. Tom and Michele Vana have dedicated their lives to improving the lives of others, a commitment that resonates deeply with the core tenets of Scouting.
Scott Paddock, Senior Vice President of External Affairs at Silver Cross Hospital, lauded the Vanas, stating, “Helping others is one of the key commitments of the Scouting Oath. It’s also something Tom and Michele Vana have personally committed to their entire lives – from their early careers in healthcare to the many decades they’ve spent improving our community through their generous philanthropy. Silver Cross Hospital is especially grateful for Tom and Michele’s enduring support over the years, enabling us to provide nationally recognized healthcare close to home for the residents of Will and Southeast Cook counties. Tom and Michele, you are exemplary human beings in every sense of the word, and I can’t think of two people more deserving of this recognition. Congratulations and thank you for all you do to make the world a better one for us all!”
Echoing these sentiments, Mayor of New Lenox Tim Baldermann remarked, “There are generous people, and then there are Tom and Michelle Vana. Rising from the despair of personal heartbreak, Tom and Michelle Vana have spent their time, energy and hard-earned finances to make life better for so many; in particular, those that are in the greatest need. As a mayor, I am fortunate to have them in our community. As a person, I am fortunate to call them friends. This recognition is well-deserved. Thank you Tom and Michelle for being the kind, compassionate people that you are.”
The Vanas' unwavering dedication to community service mirrors the values Rainbow Council strives to instill in every Scout – a commitment to duty, a willingness to help others, and a drive to make a positive impact. Their actions serve as a powerful example for our youth, demonstrating the profound difference individuals can make.
Previous Rainbow Council Distinguished Citizens include Roget Claar ('12), Russ Slinkard ('13), Larry Walsh ('14), Br. James Gaffney ('15), Terry D'Arcy ('16), Jim Roolf ('17), Michael Hansen ('18), Mike Hennessy ('19), Ed and Gloria Dollinger ('20), Dr. Judy Mitchell ('22), Ruth Colby ('23), and Bob Filotto ('24).
Rainbow Council invites the community to join in celebrating Tom and Michele Vana’s remarkable contributions and to support the mission of Scouting in Kankakee, Will, and Grundy counties. Proceeds from the dinner will help provide leadership and character development programs for local youth.
To purchase tickets or become a sponsor for the Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner, please visit: https://scoutingevent.com/702-dcad2025
Please contact Peter.Durkin@scouting.org with any questions.
Annual Robert "Bob" Chiszar Golf Classic
Thank you for attending the annual Robert "Bob" Chiszar Golf Classic! See you next year!
On a beautiful day for golf, over 100 golfers were able to join us to support Rainbow Council Scouting America at the Robert "Bob" Chiszar Golf Classic, held at Bolingbrook Golf Club.
Everyone enjoyed lunch provided by Chick-fil-A Bolingbrook with gifts handed out by the Chick-fil-A Cow and an amazing dinner with seafood from Supreme Lobster and a Chicago Buffet provided by Bolingbrook Golf Club.
The competition for the best foursome was fierce, resulting in a tiebreaker decision, following established rules.
The Putting Contest was also thrilling with several near misses but one champion.
Thank you to our sponsors, listed below, for their generous support, along with the support from the golfers, as well as those who purchased Raffle tickets. Preliminary results indicate we exceeded our goals. Special thanks to Mike Lawler and his committee who led another successful event in support of our mission.
Proceeds from this event help our Rainbow Council Scouting America team provide great programs to support the Scouts and their Leaders in Will, Grundy, and Kankakee counties.
2025 Sponsors:
Advantage Chevrolet, Bolingbrook Fred & Karen Danielewicz
Arrowhead Golf Club GLD
BetterWorld Technology Hawksmoor
Bolingbrook Golf Club Jim & Maurene Solari
Cantigny Golf Keith & Lisa Dobrolinsky
Erick Bennett & Family Lane's
Clark Brands Miller Cooper & Co., Ltd
Wright Risk Management Mistwood Golf Club
Marsh McLennan Agency National Caves Assocation, USA
Neil Santorella & apex OMFM
PFS Rainbow Council Executive Board
Natalie Manley, State Representative Risk Management Foundation
Village of Romeoville Saul Ewing
Bob and Barb Shroba Stellar Snacks
Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company Travelers Insurance
Whitley's Peanut Factory Wiffler Eagles
Join Us In Restoring the RSR Chapel
The Chapel at Rainbow Scout Reservation needs our help. This year, we are taking action and going forward with the Development of Faith in Our Youth restoration plan. This plan will include repairing the Chapel roof,cleaning and restaining the structure, adding new landscaping and an accessible entrance, as well as adding new benches and pews.
We are also using the campaign as a way to reinstall efforts into expending out religious opportunities to our youth. Programs such as our First Annual Interfaith Hike, expansion of the Religious Emblems program for both Youth and Adults, offset the costs of religious medals and ceremonies, and more.
