Purpose

FACS was established on May 19, 2022, to ensure the continuation of BSA Troop 680 and Cub Scout Pack 680, following a decision of the pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA, to no longer sponsor a Scouts BSA Troop or Cub Scout Pack. Until this decision, Troop 680 and Pack 680 had proudly served the youth of St. Louis parish for approximately 60 years. FACS assumed the charters of both units on September 1, 2022.

Although BSA Troop 680 and Cub Scout Pack 680 are presently the only BSA units FACS charters, FACS is not precluded from chartering other BSA units. As its Articles of Incorporation state, the purpose of the Corporation is to to obtain a Charter from the Boy Scouts of America for a Scouts BSA Troop, Cub Scout Pack, and/or Venture Crew to promote the training, development, leadership methods, values, and citizenship training of youth (under age 21) primarily from parishes in the Alexandria area of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, VA, using the methods now in common use by the Boy Scouts of America and in accordance with the religious principles of the Roman Catholic Church.

Although FACS and the Scouts BSA Troop, Cub Scout Pack, and/or Venture Crew (whose Charters FACS will hold) will primarily serve youth from parishes in the Alexandria area of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, VA, the corporation is not affiliated with or an entity of any church or parish or the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, VA.

History

• May 19, 2022 – The Friends of Alexandria Catholic Scouting, Inc. (FACS) is incorporates as nonstock, nonprofit corporation in the Commonwealth of Virginia exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational purposes.
• June 28, 2022 – FACS receives an IRS determination letter granting it tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS tax exempt status is retroactive to the May 19, 2022, incorporation date.
• August 8, 2022 – Father Keith O’Hare, Pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church, signs a release letter transferring the Troop 680 and Pack 680 unit numerals, equipment, and treasury to FACS. FACS donates the Troop and Pack sheds to St. Louis and removes all equipment by the end of the Labor Day weekend.
• September 1, 2022 – Pack 680 and Troop 680 charters officially transfer from St. Louis Catholic Church to FACS.
• October 7, 2022 – The Division of Consumer Protection of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services grants FACS an exemption as a civic organization from the annual registration requirement to solicit funds in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This exemption allows FACS, Troop 680, and Cub Scout Pack 680 to engage in fundraising activities in Virginia.
• October 24, 2022 – The Virginia Department of Taxation grants FACS a five-year renewable exemption from the Virginia Sales and Use Tax, allowing FACS, Troop 680, and Pack 680, to purchase goods and services for the units without paying Virginia Retail Sales tax.
• February 19, 2023 – FACS Celebrates first Scout Sunday Mass at Good Shepherd with Scouts from Troop and Pack 680 and other Catholic Scouts from the Mount Vernon and Alexandria Virginia areas.