Caterpillar Pulls Boy Scout Funding

by Christopher Freeburn | June 14, 2013 9:47 am

[1]If the Boy Scouts were hoping that their recent decision to allow openly-gay kids to remain scouts would end the controversy surrounding the organization’s stance on homosexuality[2], they were wrong.

On Thursday, construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar (CAT[3]) announced that it has ended donations to the Boy Scouts. The company’s decision resulted from a review of a $25,000 funding request. Caterpillar says it does not support organizations that discriminate against homosexuals, the Associated Press notes.

Previously, Caterpillar has provided funding to local scout troops through its charity, the Caterpillar Foundation.

A company spokesperson said that should the Boy Scouts lift the ban on homosexual adults, the company would review its decision. A representative for the Boy Scouts said the group was disappointed by Caterpillar’s decision, but thanked the company for its past support.

Caterpillar joins a growing list of corporate sponsors to pull funding from the Boy Scouts due to their policies on homosexuals. In March, Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG[4]) withdrew $4,200 in restaurant coupons that were to be distributed at a Utah scouting event[5] over the ban.

Late last year, shipping giant UPS (UPS[6]) said it would cancel future donations to the Boy Scouts[7] as long as the ban remained in place.

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2013/06/caterpillar-pulls-boy-scout-funding/

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