Baseball legend, Dale Murphy, helped attract some big bucks Thursday for a campaign kickoff in Meridian.

Former National League MVP, five-time Gold Glove winner and seven-time all star, Dale Murphy, was the special guest for the local boy scout council's campaign kickoff.

"This is our fourth annual event and every year we seem to be successful because so many people care so deeply about scouting," said board president, Bill Patterson with the Choctaw Area Boy Scouts.

This year is no different, with the campaign kickoff helping the Choctaw Council make major strides in reaching its goal.

"We had contributions and pledges today totaling $180,000 which is 75% towards our goal of funding needed to support scouting in our area," said Patterson.

Murphy applauds the ongoing effort.

"We have challenges and that's part of life, but I personally think those challenges are best met when we're helping others, serving others and doing things the right way," said Murphy.

Murphy and other supporters of scouting say that's what the Friends of Scouting Campaign does.

Serving as the primary funding source for the Choctaw Area Council, which covers six counties, each year this campaign provides more than $235,000 in support for scouting activities.

It's through these activities that Murphy says participants learn valuable life lessons.

"You can be a success at whatever you do in life. You don't have to bend the rules or cut corners," Murphy said. "You can do things right. You don't have to cheat your way to the top."