An Eagle Scout Service Project is the culmination of a scout’s years of leadership training. Will MacDonald, a high school senior and member of Las Vegas Area Council Troop 317, looked at the typical projects others had completed, but felt he wanted to do something more. His father, Scott MacDonald, suggested contacting Gift of Life Marrow Registry, where he has been registered as a volunteer bone marrow donor since 2011.
Service projects must be community-based, offering a benefit to many people, and must be pre-approved by the scout leader, the unit committee and a district representative. Scott said that he and Will had to educate the board about why bone marrow donation is so important, how it differs from blood donation and the life-saving potential every volunteer donor represents.
As luck would have it, when Will reached out to Gift of Life, he spoke to Gift of Life Community Engagement Coordinator Russell Lowe, a former Eagle Scout who understands the rigorous process required to attain the rank. “I want to help someone else become an Eagle Scout,” said Russell. “It’s not easy, but it’s a great opportunity to help people in your community.”
Will received the approval he needed from the Scouts and plans to hold drives at two locations on World Marrow Donor Day, Saturday, September 17, 2016. One will be at his church and one at his sister’ house in Midway, Utah. See below for locations and times.
The family’s strong connection to the Mormon Church offers Will a great opportunity to find volunteer donors among its congregants in the most sought after demographic: those aged 18 to 45. Transplant centers and physicians prefer younger donors, as these transplants offer better results for patients.
Will, who will lead a team of 15 scouts during the drives, has already taken some groups of younger scouts door-to-door in the community to promote the World Marrow Donor Day activities. Will has been involved in scouting since he was young, but “really jumped in” when he was 12 years old and feels without scouting his life would be a lot different.
“I am so excited about the potential of this project,” said Will. “Most Eagle Scout Service Projects only affect the local community, but this project will potentially help people anywhere in the country.” That reach could even become international, as Gift of Life is a member of the World Marrow Donor Association, which makes over 28 million donor profiles available to be searched worldwide. Will and Scott hope that this project inspires other Eagle Scout candidates to take up the banner and make Gift of Life their project as well.
Will is a senior at Palo Verde High School. After graduation he will serve a mission for the Mormon Church, and then attend college.
For more information on either drive, contact Russell Lowe, rlowe@giftoflife.org or call 646-580-6123.
Saturday, September 17, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
10550 Alta Drive
Las Vegas, Nevada 89144
Call: 702-630-9569
Saturday, September 17, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Call Gift of Life at 561-982-2900 for location details.
To learn more about World Marrow Donor Day visit www.worldmarrowdonorday.org.
For the Boy Scouts of America, visit www.scouting.org.
For the World Marrow Donor Association, visit www.wmda.info.