By Arielle Kass, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution –
ATLANTA — United Parcel Service will no longer give money to the Boy Scouts of America, joining other companies that have stopped funding or have spoken out against the organization’s prohibition of gay members or leaders.
UPS confirmed Monday it has changed its policy on charitable gifts to require that recipients have a non-discrimination policy that matches its own.
While UPS stopped short of saying the policy change was aimed at the Boy Scouts, the youth organization is the only one UPS had given to in the past that would be affected, company spokeswoman Kristen Petrella said.
Boy Scouts of America spokesman Deron Smith said in a written statement that UPS’s decision will hurt communities.
“We are disappointed to learn about this decision but respect everyone’s right to have and express a different opinion,” he said. “Unfortunately, this decision will have a direct impact on the youth we serve in local communities.”
Boy Scouts of America did not have any pending funding requests before UPS, Petrella said.
Chip-maker Intel, identified by a gay and lesbian news magazine as the Boy Scouts’ largest corporate benefactor, stopped funding the organization this year.
The chief executives of AT&T and Ernst & Young, both of whom are on Boy Scouts of America’s executive board, said they support ending the ban of gay members, and will try to work to change the policy.
Change.org said UPS gave $150,000 to the Boy Scouts in 2010, but Petrella said that was more than the company donated most years.
UPS’s charitable foundation oversaw nearly $100 million in donations and in-kind services to charities last year, according to its annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission, filed in February.
Boy Scouts of America reported revenue of $201.5 million in 2011, including $61 million listed under contributions and bequests, according to the nonprofit’s 2011 treasurer’s report, which is posted on its website.
Atlanta-based Home Depot said it gave $18,000 to various local Boy Scout projects around the country this year and $14,000 last year. Home Depot did not make any donations to the national organization. Spokesman Stephen Holmes said he said he did not know if Home Depot will change change its donation policies.
UPS received a 100 percent rating in the Human Rights Campaign’s 2012 Corporate Equality Index, a survey of firms’ inclusion and treatment of lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered employees.
