Eagle Scout Vincent La Padula says Scouting America shaped the values and leadership skills that still guide his personal and professional life. The CEO of J.P. Morgan Workplace Solutions now hopes to make those same opportunities more accessible to military families across the country.
La Padula, who also has two Eagle Scout sons, recently donated $100,000 to help launch Scouting America’s new initiative supporting children of military service members. The military family fee waiver program is designed to reduce or eliminate financial barriers that prevent military-connected youth from participating in Scouting.
Donations will cover registrations fees. But if enough Scouters join La Padula in financial support, those gifts also will cover uniforms and activities.
“Our military families already sacrifice,” La Padula says. “Participating in the movement shouldn’t be an extra financial sacrifice for them. I feel strongly that no child or young adult should be left out of Scouting because of the cost of a registration fee or uniform or program activity.”
Scouting America is waiving the $85 national registration fee for eligible new and renewing youth in military families. The program begins June 1 and is funded nationally by donations.
Who’s eligible?
Youth in families with current service in:
• Active duty
• Reserve
• National Guard
How it works
• The discount is available only through online registration.
• At checkout, select “Get Military Family Discount.”
• Complete the verification process.
• Check out using the provided discount code.
• Local council, unit, elective purchase and processing fees may apply.
Learn More and Donate
“Our military families already sacrifice,” La Padula says. “Participating in the movement shouldn’t be an extra financial sacrifice for them. I feel strongly that no child or young adult should be left out of Scouting because of the cost of a registration fee or uniform or program activity.”
Scouting America has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with the armed forces and communities surrounding military installations. The new program will strengthen that bond.
The initiative begins June 1 and arrives at a time when Scouting America leaders say military families need strong community connections more than ever. Scouting America announced this effort in February as part of a renewed emphasis on youth readiness, leadership and civic engagement among military families.
Help with challenges of military life
La Padula points out that military families face challenges unfamiliar to many civilians. Frequent moves, deployments, changing schools and disruptions to social networks can make it difficult for children to establish lasting friendships and a stable sense of community. Scouting uniquely fills that gap, he says.
“First Class and Star requirements are the same anywhere in the world,” La Padula says. “The young adult who’s moving around from base to base can find consistency and camaraderie in Scouting. That constant gives them a sense of stability and community, which is powerful and extremely valuable for any young person.”
La Padula said he intentionally structured his contribution to inspire others to step forward as well. The investment could have a long-term impact far beyond membership numbers. Research has consistently shown that Scouting participation helps young people develop leadership skills, confidence, resilience and civic responsibility — qualities especially important for children navigating the uncertainty of military life.
La Padula believes those lessons helped shape his own sons as they worked toward Eagle Scout rank.
“One of them actually wanted to drop out when he was a Star Scout,” he recalled. “We had great conversations about why it’s important — the resilience and grit and fortitude and determination and all the things Scouting teaches. Whether you’re cold on a camping trip or don’t want to hike that last five miles at Philmont, Scouting teaches you to be resilient.”
Kids need Scouting more than ever
Beyond outdoor skills, La Padula sees Scouting as increasingly important in a world dominated by screens and social isolation. He believes the organization provides something many young people desperately need.
“Scouting is at an inflection point where it’s more critical than ever that we get kids outside, off phones, off devices and into the outdoors,” he says.
His vision for the military family initiative is ambitious. Ten years from now, he hopes the program will have grown into a multimillion-dollar effort supporting thousands of military-connected kids and their families.
“I hope it creates thousands and thousands of future leaders, future executive board members and future Scout executives,” he says. “That’s my hope and intention.”