Layla Grace
Pay-It-Forward Awardee

When Scouting America eliminated dedicated community spaces for LGBTQ+ and allied scouts, women, and scouts of color at its 2026 National Jamboree, 21-year-old queer volunteer Layla Grace made the deliberate choice to attend and be visibly present. Grace volunteered in a remaining space focused on mental health and openly represented the queer and trans scouting community, offering younger LGBTQ+ scouts the kind of visible support she once found through scouting herself. Her decision demonstrated the power of showing up authentically and ensuring young people know they still have a place to belong.
Vancouver, Washington
September 23, 2026
Pay-It-Forward
Award
Awarded to:
Rainbow Railroad
Individual award recipients are not eligible for a grant, but can “pay it forward” by recommending a values-aligned organization to receive a grant. When an individual receives a “Pay It Forward” award, they are invited to recommend a grant to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in their community that is aligned with the values of the project. “Pay It Forward” recipients are typically awarded to one or several individuals for personal acts of courage






