Wednesday, February 22, 2012BOARDMAN, Ohio -- The 7th Annual "Celebrating of Scouting" breakfast hosted by the Whispering Pines District, will shine the spotlight on Boy Scouts of America families and honor several Eagle Scouts. The breakfast, also a fund-raising event, will take place March 6 at the Holiday Inn Boardman.
Among the honorees are Eagle Scouts George, John and Jim Grim, Dr. Robert and Christopher Hunt and Dr. Timothy, John, Robert, Jason and Travis Kneen. Guest speakers include Eagle Scouts Dr. Kneen, Anthony Calautti and Jason Wolf, the new Scout Executive of the Greater Western Reserve Council, Boy Scouts of America.
The Whispering Pines District of the Greater Western Reserve Boy Scout Council serves families in Mahoning County and Hubbard with 1,215 youth involved in 42 units supported by 536 adult volunteers. In 2011, the Whispering Pines District was the only district in the council to increase in the number of units, officials said.
George Grim earned his Eagle Scout award in 1948 while in Boy Scout Troop 59 from Beech Bottom, W.Va., and is a retired Systems Engineering Manager of the IBM Corp. and continues to serve the Whispering Pines District on the Advancement Committee. John Grim is a 1985 Eagle Scout of Boy Scout Troop 46 of Boardman and is currently employed as a commercial real estate Broker and lives in Atlanta. James Grim is a 1988 Eagle Scout of Boy Scout Troop 46 of Boardman and is currently employed as a security officer at the Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Robert Hunt is an Eagle Scout of Boy Scout Troop 321 from the Township of Washington, N.J., who earned his Eagle Scout Award in 1971. He currently is an interventional cardiologist at Humility Health Partners in Youngstown. Christopher Hunt is a 2006 Eagle Scout of Boy Scout Troop 44 of Poland and is a junior economics student at the University of Notre Dame.
“Scouting was unique in my early years for allowing me the freedom to pursue my personal interests in many interesting and original ways," Christopher Hunt said. "Scouting opened up a world of interests, hobbies, and pursuits that I would have completely missed if not for my time in Troop 44.”
The Kneen family has a long history in scouting starting in 1936 with their father/grandfather Charles “Chuck” Kneen. Dr. Tim Kneen is an Eagle Scout of Boy Scout Troop 94 in Armonk, N.Y., having earned his award in 1965. He is a veterinarian at the Crago Veterinary Clinic. John Kneen is a 1974 Eagle Scout of Boy Scout Troop 30 of Canfield who is employed by the Patriot Coal Corp. as an environmentalist and permits engineer. Robert Kneen is an Eagle Scout of Boy Scout Troop 25 of Canfield, earning his award in 1975. He serves as warehouse operations manager for TTI Floor Care in Canton. Jason and Travis Kneen are the sons of Dr. Kneen; both earned their Eagle Scout awards with Boy Scout Troop 25 in Canfield. Jason Kneen is earned his award in 1992 and is a principal engineer and divisional design controls process owner at Stryker Medical. Travis Kneen earned his award in 2007 and is employed at the Astro Space Camp in Idyllwild, Calif.
The breakfast begins at 7:15 a.m., and reservations are required by calling Jason Wolf at (330) 898-8474. Those who cannot attend the event are welcome to make a donation by check to Boy Scouts of America, Whispering Pines Division, 4930 Enterprise Blvd. N.W., Warren, Ohio 44481.
Mark Luke is chairman and master of ceremonies for this year's event. Steering Committee members include George and Beth Basista, David Deibel, Holly Baker, George Grim, Jennifer Hunt, Jason Wolf, Jerry Bryan, Joe Buchanan, Eric Carlson, Michael Crist, Brad Henderson, Mike Kupec, Benjamin Kyle, Paul McFadden, Rory and Shar Phelan, Joe Verostko, Robert Zedaker and Elinor Zedaker.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.