Rawitch To Receive Boy Scouts of America Leadership Award

ONEONTA—On Friday, December 8, the Boy Scouts of America Leatherstocking Council will host its annual Leadership Dinner at The Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown, to present its Community Leadership Award to public service honoree Josh Rawitch, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

“I am humbled to be recognized by the Boy Scouts of America and to follow in the footsteps of the many dedicated leaders who have served this community,” said Rawitch. “As a young Scout, I understood at an early age the values that this organization represents and am proud to receive this honor.”

The BSA Community Leadership Award is presented to those who exemplify in their daily lives the ideals of the Boy Scouts of America as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law. The recipients are chosen for their outstanding community service as evidenced by the interest and leadership given to many worthwhile organizations, as well as the respect and esteem to which they are held by their colleagues.

“This year’s program is a fitting tribute for Mr. Rawitch,” said Leatherstocking Council Board President Kirk Evans of Favicon Consulting. “By attending this dinner, or sponsoring a program advertisement, you are ensuring our local Scouts are inspired to follow Mr. Rawitch’s fine example and aspire to become outstanding community leaders themselves one day; moreover, you are providing the Leatherstocking Council with critical funds to support our Scouts.”

The Hall of Fame welcomes 250,000 visitors annually and more than 17 million visitors since opening in 1939. Rawitch was honored with the 2018 Robert O. Fishel Award which goes to the “active, non-uniformed representative of MLB whose ethics, character, dedication, service, professionalism and humanitarianism best represent the standards” of the longtime baseball PR executive for which it is named. He has helped organize MLB’s Winter Meetings annual auction, which has raised more than $1.8 million for various charities.

He and his wife, Erin, have two children, Emily and Braden, and reside in Cooperstown.

The dinner at The Otesaga will begin with hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m., with the dinner and program to follow at 6:45 p.m. A silent auction with a variety of items donated by area businesses will also be available.

Individual tickets are still available for $125.00 and sponsorships including tables of eight and program advertisements are also available.