SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Craft cocktails for a good cause brought out dozens to the Student Prince in Springfield. Community leaders turned into celebrity bartenders Wednesday night, raising funds to support young people on their journey to adulthood. One hundred percent of tips made will b enefit the Scouting America, Western Massachusetts Council. A portion of food sales benefited this cause as well. 22News spoke with one of the organizers, Michael Sacenti, about why the scouting program is such a vital resource, "It's great character building, and leadership development and ethics, it's really a wonderful program and we have almost 2,000 youth in the program all across western Massachusetts." Scott Rice, VP for the Board of Directors for the Council adds, "We really want to grow our membership, from Cub Scouts all the way to Eagle Scouts and everything in between. So if you're in the community out there and you're looking for something for a boy or a girl to participate in. I can't think of a better program than Scouting America." This was the first fundraising event of the year for the local Scouting America chapter. Local News Headlines Thunderbirds fall to Bears Wednesday night, 4-2 Community leaders become celebrity bartenders for Scouting America event in Springfield UMass Amherst creates fund to help support research community Mayor Sarno, city leaders present budget requests for FY2026 hearing WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less