2021 Trailblazer Award Recipient Announced

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - July 15, 2021 - PRLog -- Contact: Charles Apgar, 217-529-2727

Julie Staley named 2021 Abraham Lincoln Council Trailblazer

SPRINGFIELD – The Abraham Lincoln Council, Boy Scouts of America is proud to announce that owner and CEO of Spencer Films, President of Spencer Theatre Company, and television and theatre personality Julie Staley has been selected as the 2021 Trailblazer award recipient.

The Trailblazer Award was established in 2010 to recognize the area's most distinguished citizens whose community dedication, hard work, and philanthropy have paved the way for youth to succeed and grow. The Trailblazer Dinner raises important funds to provide life changing experiences to youth in Central Illinois.

Most recently a doctoral student at the University of Illinois Springfield in Public Administration, Julie also holds a master's and bachelor's degree in Mass Communication, Radio, and Television. She is the owner and CEO of Spencer Films, President of the Spencer Theatre Company, and President of the Staley Family Foundation.

Julie is an award-winning TV news anchor/reporter, has worked in television newsrooms at KSDK-TV & KDNL-TV in St. Louis, KCCP-TV in Kansas City, All News Channel in Minneapolis, CNN in Atlanta, WAND-TV in Decatur, WICS-TV & WRSP-TV in Springfield, and studied at the BBC in London, England. She is a segment host and reporter for WSEC-TV and WSIU-TV's In Focus. Julie performs on stage at venues like The Muni, the Hoogland Center for the Arts, and New Salem's Theatre in the Park, and has been a featured soloist with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra.

Julie and her husband Mark have two sons; Alex, 13 and Luke, 11. She is a passionate volunteer with a personal connection to Scouting. Her youngest son is a member of Scouts BSA Troop 310.

The annual Trailblazer Dinner will be held Sept. 17 at the Crown Plaza in Springfield. Through the years, the Trailblazer Dinner has raised more than $300,000 to support the Abraham Lincoln Council. Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are available to businesses and individuals.

Past Trailblazer recipients include the Bunn Family, Dt. Stephen and Lisa Stone, Geoff Isringhausen, Dr. J. Roland Folse, Sergio "Satch" Pecori, Dick Levi, Dr. Naomi Lynn, Dr. Richard Moy, Evelyn Brandt Thomas, James Dove and Dan O'Brien.

To be a part of the Trailblazer Award and Dinner please visit https://www.alincolnbsa.org/trailblazer or contact Assistant Scout Executive Charles Apgar, Abraham Lincoln Council at 217-529-2727 or Charles.Apgar@Scouting.org