Fundraising in The Fast Lane - Friends of NRA · Oliver North, Pastor Billy Graham, Alabama, Sarah...

QUARTER 2 | 2014 Traditions 1

SECTION

OUTSTANDING IN THE FIELDFriends of NRA’s 2013 Volunteers of the Year

represent the best of grassroots fundraising

FROM HUNTER SAFETY TO SAFEGUARDING

AMERICAA U.S. Army Specialist’s journey

from NRA Foundation-funded youth shooting sports to top

military marksmanship

Fundraising Fast Lanein The

THE NRA FOUNDATION AT THE 2014 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS IN INDY

WRITE FREEDOM INThe winners of the 2013 NRA Civil Rights

Defense Fund Youth Essay Contest

Fundraising in the Fast Lane

The NRA Foundation cruised to recordfundraising success at the 2014 NRA Annual

Meetings & Exhibits in Indianapolis.

Features4

QUARTER 2 | 2014 Traditions

Traditions is published quarterly by The NRA Foundation, Inc., for the benefit of its donors and other interested parties.11250 Waples Mill Road . Fairfax, VA 22030 . www.nrafoundation.org

Mission Statement Established in 1990, The NRA Foundation, Inc. (“NRA Foundation”) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that raises tax-deductible contributions in support of a wide range of firearms-related public interest activities of the National Rifle Association of America and other organizations that defend and foster the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans. These activities are designed to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those participating in the shooting sports, and to educate the general public about firearms in their historic, technological, and artistic context. Funds granted by The NRA Foundation benefit a variety of constituencies throughout the United States, including children, youth, women, individuals with physical disabilities, gun collectors, law enforcement officers, hunters, and competitive shooters.

Editor & Designer Christina Paladeau

Co-EditorNicole McMahon

Mr. Frank R. Brownell, IIIPresident

The Honorable Bill K. BrewsterVice President

The Honorable Joe M. AllbaughTrustee

Mr. William A. BachenbergTrustee

Mr. Steve HornadyTrustee

Mr. Eric JohansonTrustee

Mr. George K. Kollitides IITrustee

Mr. Wayne R. LaPierreExOfficio

Ms. Anne LeeTrustee

Mrs. Carolyn D. MeadowsTrustee

Mr. Owen P. MillsTrustee

Mr. James W. Porter IITrustee

Mr. Dennis J. ReeseTrustee

Captain John C. SiglerTrustee

Mr. H. Wayne SheetsExecutive Director

Mr. Wilson H. Phillips, Jr.Treasurer

Mr. Skipp GalythlySecretary

Board of Trustees & Officers

Staff

National News

Regional Updates

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INDUSTRY CORNER |Donation of the Century

PROGRAM PROFILE | NRA CRDF Youth Essay Contest

Outstanding in the Field:Volunteers of the Year

SPOTLIGHT | Hunter Safety to Safeguarding America

The Latest Stories from Friends of NRA and NRA Foundation Grant Recipients

Cover Story

ON THE COVER


SECTION

OUTSTANDING IN THE FIELDFriends of NRA’s 2013 Volunteers of the Year

represent the best of grassroots fundraising

FROM HUNTER SAFETY TO SAFEGUARDING

AMERICAA U.S. Army Specialist’s journey

from NRA Foundation funded youth shooting sports to top

military marksmanship

Fundraising Fast Lanein The

THE NRA FOUNDATION AT THE 2014 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS IN INDY

WRITE FREEDOM INThe winners of the 2013 NRA Civil Rights

Defense Fund Youth Essay Contest

An NRA Foundation volunteer sells Wall of Guns tickets in the main hall-way of the Indianapolis Convention Center. Photo by Lloyd Hill.


In April, the 2014 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits brought over nine acres of guns and gear to Indianapolis, and record numbers of volunteers arrived from all over the United States to assist in The NRA Foundation fundraising efforts. The first event of the week-end, the National NRA Foundation Banquet & Auction, packed

Lucas Oil Stadium with over 1,900 avid supporters and many generous companies that came together as one to support the programs we fund nationwide.

The banquet featured many one-of-a-kind items such as firearms, artwork, knives, guitars, hunts, vacation trips and even a boat, but the highlight of the evening was the Region Volunteer of the Year presentation. Each year this portion of the banquet recognizes the best of the best Friends of NRA volunteers. These highly dedicated men and women are what make The NRA Foundation what it is today. They not only give money but they also give their time, a portion of their lives, to this great cause. Event sponsors Cabela’s, Universal Coin & Bullion and Kimber as well as major donors Henry, Ruger and Baron Technology, Inc., also deserve recognition and thanks for their contributions. Due to the support of all our donors, sponsors and, most of all, volunteers this was yet another record breaking year!

Early Friday morning the hallways began to fill up with convention attendees anxious to hit the exhibit hall and see the guns and gear displayed by over 1,100 exhibitors. Located in the hallway was the crowd-favorite NRA Foundation Wall of Guns, sponsored this year by Cabelas, Kel-Tec and Daniel Defense. It featured over 70 different makes, models and calibers, including guns with MSRPs as high as $1,799. Throughout the whole weekend attendees could play for only $20 and support the shooting sports while getting a 1 in 100 chance to win a dream firearm. During the three days a total of 171 firearms were won and over $100,000 was raised, with a significant donation of over 40 firearms from Century International Arms to the Wall of Guns greatly con-tributing to that success. The money from the Wall of Guns will help fund many shooting and education programs across the country in 2014.

The NRA Annual Meetings consist of many other exciting functions such as the Country Jam, NRA-ILA Leadership Forum, NRA Women’s Leadership Forum Luncheon and Auction, Nation-al Prayer Breakfast and NRA Sports Youth Day. They feature great speakers and singers such as Oliver North, Pastor Billy Graham, Alabama, Sarah Evans and more. If you have never attended an NRA Annual Meeting I encourage you to mark your calendar for April 9-12, 2015, and come to Nashville, Tenn., for what will be the biggest Annual Meeting to date. I guarantee that once you attend you will want to return year after year.

Thank you for all the time, money and energy that you give to ensure that future generations will also get to enjoy the shooting sports! I’ll see you in Nashville in 2015!

Guest Editorial

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NRA FOUNDATION AT NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS AT FRIENDSOFNRA.ORG/ANNUALMEETING

By Chad FranklinCentral Region Director, National Rifle Association

SUPPORTING THE SHOOTING SPORTS AT THE

NRA FOUNDATION’S NATIONAL EVENTS

4 Traditions QUARTER 2 | 2014

By Katie ParkesSpecial Events Coordinator, National Rifle Association

Fundraising in the

fast lane

ens of thousands sped to Indianapolis in April for the 2014 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits. Hotels were sold out and record crowds filled the Indianap-olis Convention Center in support of the National Ri-fle Association and Second Amendment freedoms. The convention had a successful run this year, and

the National NRA Foundation Banquet and Auction in partic-ular broke all kinds of records! Hosted in the grand Lucas Oil Stadium, the record breaking crowd of 2,000 attendees helped to raise the most funds ever at a single event for The NRA Foun-dation, generating over $500,000.

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The Banquet kicked off the weekend’s events and offered attend-ees an evening of fellowship, fun and ultimately fundraising to sup-port the future of America’s precious shooting sports traditions. In true Friends of NRA style, the night included games, raffles, silent and live auctions, food and speakers. Thanks to event sponsors Cabela’s, Kimber and Universal Coin and Bullion, The NRA Foun-dation was able to offset expenses and costs to raise the maximum funds possible.

The venue, home of the Indianapolis Colts, provided a unique experience for guests. Nearly 2,000 attendees waited in the Lucas Oil Plaza adorned by full sized race cars, tractors and speed boats all owned by Forrest Lucas, founder of Lucas Oil Products. Before doors opened, the giant Colts horseshoe-shaped stage held the 350 Friends of NRA Ammo Boxes sponsored by the Indiana State Ri-fle and Pistol Association. These boxes were the deal of the night! Guests who purchased one received exclusive opportunities to win four different firearms; an Olympic Arms 204 Ruger, DPMS 308 Carbine, a Witness Hunter EEA 10mm or the Savage 110 BA .338 Lapua. On top of that, the boxes included two tickets into seven games at the banquet for a chance to win up to 24 firearms! By the time the doors opened at 5pm, most of the boxes were sold, and they had raised over $50,000 for The NRA Foundation.

When the doors opened, guests entered the banquet through the field tunnel entrance, providing another unique “behind the scenes” experience. NRA President Jim Porter kicked off the evening by welcoming the attendees and thanking them for their support. Guests quickly found seats and proceeded to the silent auction, buckets and games tables.

The bucket raffle, a classic Friends of NRA event, made select mer-chandise and firearms available with the purchase of a raffle pack. New to the event this year was the “Gold Ticket,” which gave a raffle pack buyer the opportunity to drop their ticket into the “Gold Lev-el” gun buckets. Three lucky winners walked away with a Browning A5 Stalker, a Custom Remington 700 and an FNH-FNX .45 Tac-tical firearm.

Competition at the silent auction rose over custom firearms, na-tional and international hunts, tactical and hunting gear and home decor that displayed a passion for America and Second Amendment rights. If a buyer wanted the item immediately, they could “Buy it now” for a set price and be entered for the exclusive chance to win a .308 Ruger Scout Rifle. With over 150 items to bid on, participants kept coming back for more.

The NRA Foundation is grateful for the support of many manu-facturers and companies who sponsored the games at this year’s ban-quet. A total of 11 games gave each person the chance to win one or multiple firearms and gear. For the first time in the history of the National NRA Foundation Banquet, all the firearms on each game were 100 percent donated, again allowing The NRA Foundation to raise the maximum funds possible!

The O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., Duck Commander Game and Goose Hunting Game offered the signature Mossberg 500 and 930 Duck Commander shotguns; volunteers running these games joined in the spirit of Duck Commander by wearing beards and Americana bandanas. The Buck Hunter game offered a Taurus Rossi 92 donated by Taurus/Braztech and a crossbow donated by Ram-page Crossbow. A wide variety of decoys, firearms and hunting gear could be had at the Benelli USA Gobbler Game and Predator Hunt-ing Game. Attendees who bought tickets at the Walther Arms, Inc., Secret Agent Game were in for a treat when James Bond and Bond Girl volunteer impersonators handed them their tickets!

Bigger and better than ever, the Century International Arms Inc. Tactical Raffle and Smith & Wesson Winner Take All game boasted numerous firearms. The Tactical Raffle offered buyers the chance to win six different Century International Arms tactical firearms along with select tactical gear. The Winner Take All was the grand prize of the night, offering eight Smith & Wesson firearms to one lucky winner!

The chances to win didn’t end when attendees found their tables; two more games were offered after they sat down. The Remington Table of Guns, another generously sponsored game, raised nearly $20,000 and awarded a Remington R51 9mm Pistol to each attend-ee at one lucky table. The final game of the evening gave 100 guests a last minute chance to buy raffle tickets that offered a chance to win a Springfield Armory M1A 308 rifle with its stock signed by “The Gunny” R. Lee Ermy.

Guests took to their seats as the silent auction, games and buckets came to a close, but the night was just getting started. Gold, Silver and Bronze table sponsors—huge contributors in the revenue for the evening—sat near the front of the room. Each table sponsor, whether a company or an individual, received special recognition as a thank you. Event sponsors and Gold and Silver table sponsors also received a 2014 Indianapolis commemorative W.R. Case custom knife with a tin case for each of their guests. These special tables gave guests the opportunity for prime seating and revved up the level of fundraising for the future of the shooting sports.

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To kick off the evening’s program and honor our Amer-ican freedoms, Brooke Haggard, the wife of NRA Indi-ana Field Representative Craig Haggard, sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem while the Mooresville American Legion presented the colors. Following the opening, The NRA Foundation and Friends of NRA cele-brated the volunteers essential to the organization’s success.To recognize the thousands of volunteers who help with Friends of NRA banquets across the country, six Region Volunteers of the Year were honored during the National NRA Foundation Banquet. Volunteer Fundraising Direc-tor Sarah Budi awarded each recipient a certificate framed by Mill Pond Press. Recipients were also given a Friends of NRA jacket by their respective NRA Field Representative and an expense-paid trip to the 2014 Annual Meetings.

The evening also included two other presentations. First, NRA Board Member Lt. General Leroy Sisco presented brand new homes to three wounded veterans and their families courtesy of the Military Warriors Support Foun-dation. Kyle Weaver, Executive Director of NRA General Operations, presented a larger than life key to each hero, representing their new home. Then President of Hen-ry Repeating Arms Anthony Imperato, a generous NRA Foundation and industry supporter, presented a check from his company dedicated to the Peyton Manning Chil-dren’s Hospital. The NRA Foundation was thrilled to host both presentations that honored American freedoms.

Attendees then had the privilege of hearing from NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre who rallied the crowd and greeted attendees, thanking them for their sup-port and loyalty. Cabela’s Vice President of Brand Mar-keting Lee Dolan, Kimber Chief Operating Officer Ralph Karanian and Universal Coin and Bullion President Mike Fuljenz all thanked The NRA Foundation for the event sponsorship opportunity and shared in their support for preserving America’s firearms heritage.

Photos by Peter Fountain, Lloyd Hill, Kyle Jillson and Forrest McCormack


COVER STORY

The NRA Foundation live auction wrapped up the evening with 36 items up for bid. Among them was: a Ted Nugent package which included an autographed red, white and blue guitar paired with a red, white and blue AR; a custom Oglesby & Oglesby BAWANA 500; the 10 Millionth Mossberg shotgun; a 20 ga. FAUSTI; a heli-copter hog hunt package; a Cabela’s gun safe; and a 6 ft tall by 7 ft in diameter Nature Blinds tree blind. The Live Auction Showcase Item was a custom NRA theme fishing boat donated by Diamondback and Taurus, and this single item raised over $20,000 for The NRA Foundation.

Finally, capping off the fundraising for the event, three firearms were auctioned on Gunbroker.com. The one-of-a-kind Ruger 1 Millionth 1911 collectable firearm com-memorates the challenge to sell one million guns in 2012 that Ruger conquered. Donated by Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc., this firearm special engraved by Baron Technology, Inc., raised nearly $20,000 for The NRA Foundation. Henry Repeating Arms donated a set of firearms to The NRA Foundation as well. The Model 1860 Henry and First Original Henry set commemorates the Original Hen-ry Deluxe, the first Henry produced in nearly 150 years. This serial number BTH0001 Original Henry along with the Model 1860 manufactured in 1865 raised $100,000 for The NRA Foundation!

The NRA Foundation knows how to fundraise in the fast lane. Thanks to the attendees, donors, volunteers and sponsors who joined us to celebrate our American free-doms and support the future of shooting sports, the Na-tional NRA Foundation Banquet broke records all around and raised over $500,000!

The NRA Foundation hopes to continue to break re-cords next year at the 2015 National NRA Foundation Banquet and Auction in Nashville on April 9. Be sure to buy your tickets early and join The NRA Foundation in protecting the future of America’s shooting sports traditions!


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The lively and much anticipated NRA Foundation’s Wall of Guns had another successful run at the 143rd NRA Annual Meetings thanks to the dedication of staff and volunteers and sponsorships from Cabela’s, Kel-Tec and Daniel Defense. The 2014 Wall of Guns had a total of 81 winners and over $100,000 raised in support of The NRA Foundation and the future of America’s shooting sports traditions.

Operating in the main hallway of the Indianapolis Convention Center, The NRA Foundation had a prime location for attracting exhibit goers and attendees entering the building for the NRA An-nual Meetings and Exhibits. This 24-foot long, beautifully crafted wall and display cabinet built by Legacy Quest Outdoors boasted nearly 80 firearms of different makes and calibers. Looking down the hallway it was hard to miss it, especially with large crowds gath-ering around and a speaker projecting the voices of Western Region Director Brad Kruger and South Texas NRA Field Representative Liz Foley, along with several other Friends of NRA Region Directors and Field Representatives.

Each section of the Wall was chock full of firearms, including some donated by Century International Arms. New to the Wall this year was the “Draw of the Century” raffle, a re-load raffle that al-lowed purchasers to buy into a new exclusive level of raffle pack and receive tickets to win a Century International Arms American-made AK. A winner was drawn every 10 rounds of the Wall of Guns, and each winner had the opportunity to choose one of five different Century Arms firearms. This new raffle had a wildly successful inau-gural year with eight winners!

Wall of Guns rounds each consist of 100 $20 raffle tickets. Once they are sold, a winner is drawn and a new round with a 1 in 100

chance of winning begins. Each lucky winner has the opportunity to select one firearm off of the “pick one” side of the Wall or two fire-arms off of the “pick two” side. Eighty-one happy winners walked away with winner’s choice of firearm and a neon green t-shirt boast-ing: “I won the Wall of Guns...Jealous?”

Wall of Guns ticket package options included other incentives such as a “Got Guns?” t-shirt, a Kel-Tec PF-9 or an Instant Winner, making each package purchaser a winner in one fashion or anoth-er. The most popular picks off the wall were the Daniel Defense M4V5 and M4V1, the Auto Ordinance Thompson 1927A-1 De-luxe “Tommy Gun,” the Century Arms Centurion 39 Sporter and the Ruger GP100.

All of the sponsors, donors and volunteers who made the 2014 Indianapolis Wall of Guns possible should be proud of the energy that surrounded the raffle and of its continued success in supporting The NRA Foundation.

“Come on down to the Wall of Guuuuuuuuuuns” at next year’s NRA Annual Meetings in Nashville on April 10-12, 2015… You could be our next winner!

Read more about the new Draw of the Century raffle in the article on the following pages.

By Katie ParkesSpecial Events Coordinator, National Rifle Association

GOT GUNS?THE NRA FOUNDATION’S WALL OF GUNS


COVER STORY

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By Brad KrugerWestern Region Director, National Rifle Association

At the 2014 Shot Show in Las Vegas, NRA Volunteer Fundraising Merchandise Manager Kathy Purtell and I met with many companies who showed overwhelming generosity in donating product to the National NRA

Foundation Banquet at the 2014 NRA Annual Meetings in Indi-anapolis. All expressed concern about the future of the shooting sports in the United States and eagerness to help raise money to ensure that future generations of law abiding Americans are guaranteed the same rights, freedoms and traditions that we enjoy today.

Century International Arms was no exception. Kathy and I had the distinct honor and privilege of sitting down with Director of Regulatory Compliance Phil Burnor and Director of Product Development Gary Beagle at the Century booth to look over their new products. Their contagious enthusiasm for their new firearms as well as their new gun case line instantly caught on. We asked Phil and Gary if they would be interested in donating four firearms for the “Tactical Raffle” at the National NRA Foundation Banquet. Without batting an eye they said that Century would be honored to help The NRA Foundation promote the shooting sports.

After some tough deliberation between their hottest selling items, we selected: their world-renowned, all American-built Cen-turion 39 Sporter; a fully equipped Canik 55 Model TP-9 9mm;

the Catamount Fury 12 ga. Tactical shotgun; and the Catamount Lynxx 12 ga. Tactical shotgun. This collection would be a sweet package for the lucky winner of the Tactical Raffle who would receive all four firearms.

One week later Phil called me and revealed they wanted to donate two more guns—a C39 Micro AK Pistol and a C93 rifle in .223—along with four of their new stand up gun cases. Now the winner of the Tactical Raffle would take home six Century fire-arms, all for the ticket price of just $20, and the gun cases would enhance the live and silent auctions.

Despite having already committed to a large donation, Century International Arms did not stop there. A few weeks later Century called NRA Volunteer Fundraising Special Events Coordinator Katie Parkes to say that Chairman of Century International Arms Michael Sucher had decided to donate 20 more firearms—five of each of their top selling models—to The NRA Foundation’s Wall of Guns at NRA Annual Meetings. These firearms were placed directly on the Wall of Guns, and when one was picked all the proceeds from that round of ticket sales went directly to The NRA Foundation thanks to Century’s 100 percent donation.

Additionally, a special side raffle featuring only Century firearms was created and called “Draw of the Century.” This was a high-roll-er reload raffle open to purchasers of our $500 raffle packages

CENTURY INTERNATIONAL ARMS SUppORTS ThE NRA FOUNdATION wITh A LANdMARk dONATION TO ITS 2014 ANNUAL MEETINgS EvENTS.


Industry Corner NATIONAL NEWS

and above. The $500 package included one Draw of the Centu-ry ticket; $1,000 packages included two; and $2,000 packages included four. Every 10 rounds sold on the Wall of Guns, a Draw of the Century ticket would be drawn. Unlike the Wall of Guns for which each round has new tickets, this raffle would keep every ticket, meaning one ticket could win multiple times throughout the weekend.

On Friday, April 25, the first of three days for the Wall of Guns at Annual Meetings, tickets sold quickly. Many people had been waiting all year to play the Wall of Guns. By that afternoon, the Century all American-made AK rifles were among the top firearms being picked by winners, and we were already in danger of running out of them. Of the more than 70 firearms on the Wall of Guns,

the Century rifles were running out after only half a day!Fortunately, I was able to speak with Phil Burnor and Gary

Beagle who were at the Century booth on the exhibit floor along with Chairman Michael Sucher. I explained to them our problem. All three of them responded with big smiles. “How can we help?” said Michael.

I drummed up my courage and responded, “I know that you have already been more than generous by donating 26 firearms to The NRA Foundation, but I am afraid I am going to have to ask

you to donate even more.” Without any hesitation Michael simply grinned and asked, “How many do you need?”

When I requested 15 more of their American made AK rifles, he replied with “No problem.” I stood there in disbelief and appreciation of his generosity. Thanks to this last minute addition, Century’s American made AK’s continued to be one of the hottest picked guns on the Wall of Guns, and the Draw of the Century was an even bigger hit.

On the final day of the Wall of Guns, I walked over to the Cen-tury booth to thank them for their exceptional donation. Michael looked me straight in the eyes and asked, “Do you know why we did that?” He turned around and pointed at his beautiful daughter. “We donated all those firearms to The NRA Foundation for our

children, as we want them to grow up with the same freedoms we have today.”

The NRA Foundation would like to thank everyone at Century International Arms for their more than generous donation of 41 firearms to the National NRA Foundation Banquet and Wall of Guns. That donation makes them the largest donor of firearms in the history of The NRA Foundation’s events at the Annual Meetings.

Thanks to Century International Arms and all the other donors this year, The NRA Foundation had one of its best Annual Meet-ings fundraisers ever. Every dollar raised will go directly to promot-ing the shooting sports and Second Amendment education. We could not have done this without you. Thank you for all that you do for freedom, the shooting sports and The NRA Foundation!

Interested in donating to The NRA Foundation’s national events? Con-tact Katie Parkes at (703) 267-1417 or [email protected].

Pointing at his daughter, Chairman Michael Sucher declared, “We donated all those firearms to The NRA Foundation for our children, as we want them to grow up with the same freedoms we have today.”

12 Traditions

Friends of NRA raised $32 million for The NRA Foundation last year. This all-time fundraising record is a testament to the commitment of tens of thousands of Friends of NRA volunteers across the country.

A truly grassroots effort, Friends of NRA is supported by volunteers from all walks of life driven by a passion for the Second Amendment and a desire to see firearms education and the shooting sports thrive in their communities.

By Peter LawlessEvent Support Coordinator, National Rifle Association

Friends of NRA’s 2013 Volunteers of the Year

NATIONAL NEWS


The Volunteer of the Year (VOY) pro-gram celebrates the hard work of all the volunteers who drive forward The NRA Foundation and Friends of NRA’s mission, and it particularly recognizes the individuals whose dedication and leadership in the field has led to outstanding success. Each year, NRA Field Representatives are tasked with selecting one volunteer or husband-wife team of volunteers as their respective area’s VOY. These Area Volunteers of the Year receive special recognition from their NRA Field Representative in front of their fellow volunteers as well as a custom embroidered Friends of NRA “Volunteer of the Year” jack-et.

From the group of Area Volunteers of the Year, NRA Regional Directors then select one volunteer from their respective regions to honor as the Region VOY. In addition to the VOY jacket, each Region winner and his or her guest receive an expense-paid trip to the NRA Annual Meetings and are honored attendees of the National NRA Foundation Banquet.

On April 24, six volunteers repre-senting five regions were presented with special awards at the 2014 National NRA Foundation Banquet at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Pat Patterson of Virgin-ia, Mitchell Howard of Kentucky, Travis Mann of Oklahoma, Darrell and Sandra Hester of South Texas, and Stan Rothfuss of Mid-California were recognized as the Eastern, Central, Midwest, Southern and Western Region Volunteers of the Year, respectively.

Collectively these six volunteers raised over $336,000 in 2013, often balancing involvement in multiple committees and events as well as other aspects of their lives like raising families, running business-es and participating in other volunteer efforts. Each has a different personality and fundraising method, but all have dedicat-ed countless hours to Friends of NRA and are commonly driven by a passion for the shooting sports, firearms education and the freedoms guaranteed by the Second Amendment.

“It is a great honor to be selected as the Region Volunteer of the Year and repre-sent the entire Central Region at the NRA Annual Meeting,” writes Mitchell Howard. He captures the selfless and passionate attitude of Friends of NRA volunteers as he reflects on his Region VOY award:

“The greatest honor is to have worked with and been blessed to know so many dedicated and hard working people on our committee and others throughout the state and the Central Region over the past 22 years. It’s not just one but ev-eryone on the committee that makes it work. I would like to thank each and every one for doing their part to ensure that many future generations will be able to enjoy the rights and freedom that we have. Again I just want to say I’m very proud to be a part of such a great program. TOGETHER WE WIN.”

Interested in becoming a Friends of NRA vol-unteer? Visit us online to learn more and sign up! Go to www.friendsofnra.org/Volunteer.

From left: Director of Volunteer Fundraising Sarah Budi, South-west Region Director (RD) Jason Quick, Stan Rothfuss, Sandra Hes-ter, Southern RD Al Hammond, Darrell Hester, Mid-West RD Tom Ulik,Travis Mann, Central RD Chad Franklin, Mitchell Howard, Eastern RD Bryan Hoover, Pat Patterson, and Director of Field Staff Philip Gray

Friends of NRA’s 2013 Volunteers of the Year

Photo by Lloyd Hill

NATIONAL NEWS


Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York (Lower) and Rhode Island: Jonathan Hirons, Rhode IslandDelaware and Pennsylvania (Eastern): Donna Gerz, Lancaster CountyMaine, New Hampshire, and Vermont: Cheryl Ziembroski, Northeast KingdomNew York (Upper): Carmen & Joan Heitczman, Orange County / Hudson HighlandsNorth Carolina (Eastern): Elvie Jackson, Greater TriangleNorth Carolina (Western): Ricky Profitt, Guilford County Ohio (Northern): Todd Figard, North East OhioOhio (Southern): Sean Maloney, Butler CountyPennsylvania (Western): William Tylavsky, PA’s 1stVirginia (Eastern), Maryland (Eastern) and Washington, D.C.: Pat Patterson, Southern Commonwealth & Greater RichmondWest Virginia, Maryland (Western) and Virginia (Western): Lee Godbey, Seneca Trail

Illinois (Northern): Christina Cira, East Central IllinoisIllinois (Southern): Ted Buck, Jr., Mt. Vernon AreaIndiana: Jason Franklin, Falls of the OhioIowa: John Allen, FoundersKentucky: Mitchell Howard, Big RiversMichigan: Tom & Bonita Tompkins, Northwest MichiganMissouri: Amy Stilfield, State Fair AreaNebraska: Jim McChesney, Platte ValleyTennessee: Mark Lee, Davidson County Wisconsin: Kellie Walsh, State Line

Alabama: Larry Jones, Lake EufaulaArkansas: Kelly Ford, IndependenceFlorida (Northern): Connie Davis, Silver RiverFlorida (Southern): Jennifer Williamson, Martin CountyGeorgia: Donna Wyatt, Sumter AreaLouisiana: Bill Laird, Ark-LA-TexMississippi: Chris Haycraft, MS DeltaSouth Carolina: Faye Stoudemire, Mid-CarolinaTexas (Northern): John & Kim Capps, Ellis County, Lone Star Oil Shale & Alliance CorridorTexas (Southern): Darrell & Sandra Hester, Mid-CoastTexas (West): Betty Deneen, Taylor County

Colorado: Jim Eckersley, North ColoradoKansas: Bruce & Mary McCune, Butler CountyMinnesota: Leroy Van Brunt, South MetroMontana: Tara Kiel, Southeast MontanaNew Mexico: Jim & Dorothy Greene, MountainairNorth Dakota: Stephanie Sandstrom, Burliegh County & Morton CountySouth Dakota: Mike Deakins, MitchellOklahoma: Travis Mann, Northwest OklahomaUtah: Denise Knight, OgdenWyoming: Kathy Watt, Southeast Wyoming

Alaska (Northern): Sarah Espelin, Upper SusitnaAlaska (Southern): Ken & Marie Murdock, Alaska StateArizona: Hugh Winderweedle, White MountainCalifornia (Central): John Howe, Kern CountyCalifornia (Mid): Stan Rothfuss, Mariposa, Oakhurst, 3 Rivers, Madera & PattersonCalifornia (North Eastern): Barry Blaylock, Tuolumne CountyCalifornia (North Western): Robert Hampson, North Santa Cruz County California (Southern): Eric & Sue Johnson, East County Nevada: John Madden, Reno/Sparks, Modesto, Carson City & Carson ValleyHawaii and Oregon: Katie Jones, Douglas CountyIdaho: Craig Seymour, Upper Snake RiverWashington: Steve Dazey, North Puget Sound

EAST ERN R EG I ON

CENTRAL R EG I ON MID -WEST R EG I ON

SOUTHERN R EG I ON WESTERN R EG I ON


By Peter LawlessEvent Support Coordinator, National Rifle Association

In 2010 the unit started its first Sporter Air Rifle team with six posi-tions, which practiced by shooting sin-gle pump air rifles at pellet traps set on top of milk crates. Four short years later, the team boasts national records and championship titles, and it has grown to 24 positions in three Sporter teams and a newly formed Precision team.

“This year we had all of our shooters qualify for national matches and all are nationally ranked,” says Head Coach LTC Tracey Carter (USAF, Ret.). He explains that this even includes the three freshmen who picked up a rifle for the first time in October; by December they were shooting national level scores, and they attended the National JROTC Championships in February.

“Most clubs would love to have even one team qualify,” remarks Carter. “I am getting emails and calls about twice a week asking questions about how we do things, and we have caught the atten-tion of some college athletic recruiters.”

In addition to competing in local league matches, the Franklin Co. HS AFJROTC marksmanship program competes in matches run by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), NRA and USA Shooting. The team travels to six national competitions each year. Its complete list of titles and accolades is too long to list here, but it includes JROTC and junior rifle club champion-ship titles as well as accomplishments of the individual shooters on the team.

One of the team’s most recent, and significant, accomplishments is breaking the national record for an Air Force

JROTC Precision rifle team at the 2014 JROTC Service Championships—in the Precision team’s first year of compe-tition! Precision teams prove difficult to start due to the cost of the special equipment that Sporter teams do not require. Fortunately, a $10,000 grant from The NRA Foundation last year allowed the Franklin Co. team to pur-chase the necessary equipment and field the team that brought home the title.

With the continued support of Friends of NRA, Coach Carter has big plans for the team’s future. “We hope to keep the success from the past four years going year after year and to get shooters into college shooting programs, but we have many other goals,” he explains. “We want young people to experience the sport and make a lasting impression on them. They can shoot their whole life if they want. They are more disci-plined, they make better grades, and they concentrate more. They know what it takes to reach a high goal without quitting.”

Expressing his satisfaction with the success of the program so far, Carter concludes, “It is amazing to see a shoot-er grow and excel in a four-year period. Marksmanship is a tough physical and mental sport that takes control. I am very proud of what our team has done, and I know they [its members] can accomplish any task in life.”

An NRA Foundation grant could help your shooting sports program take off! Ap-ply at www.nrafoundation.org for a grant funded by Friends of NRA fundraising.


Eastern REGIONAL UPDATE

DEEP IN THE MOUNTAINS of southwest Virginia, Franklin County High School is home

to one of the most highly awarded Air Force JROTC marksmanship programs in the country.


REGIONAL UPDATE Central

Attica, Ind., is a small rural town with a strong community known for taking care of itself. It has its share of industry, but Attica has a large agricultural component within the

school district. With this geographical location many of the students have grown up hunting, fishing, trapping and enjoying the out-doors. This led Superintendent Derek Marshall to ask the students if they would be interested in trap shooting and archery programs.

He received a very positive response and began a conversation with the school community and school board. The school board was very responsive to the proposal to teach its students firearm and outdoor safety. They also realized that working with local law en-forcement and conservation officers would be a large benefit to their

students. So the work began to implement these programs.Many aspects of organizing a start-up program were addressed:

finding competent and caring coaches, organizing efforts with law enforcement and conservation officers, finding a local American Trapshooting Association (ATA) club to host the team, and funding. Attica Schools’ director of maintenance, Jim Blankenship, quickly agreed to coach the program. A long time trap shooter and avid outdoorsman, he was the perfect fit for this fledgling program. His respect amongst the school community and his knowledge of the sport were instrumental in the program’s rapid growth.

Coach Blankenship and Superintendent Marshall set out to re-cruit local law enforcement and conservation officers to help with

the trap team activities. Officer Jacob Chambers of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) quickly volunteered his services and has spearheaded the hunter and gun safety portion of the program. He organizes the DNR’s finest offi-cers to help run hunter education courses for those who want to participate on Attica’s trap team.

When Marshall went looking for a “home” for the trap team, he met Charlie Bryant, owner/operator of Wallace Traps. Bryant is an ATA and trap shoot-ing veteran, and he is well known throughout the sport. His knowledge seems endless and his passion for this sport is tremendous. Bryant opened his club to the students, dedicating an evening just for them to practice, and his support is greatly appreciated.

By Tanner MarshallAttica Jr.-Sr. High School Trap Team Member

ATTICA CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL CORPORATION in west central Indiana has something that almost no other Indiana public schools have. Despite its total K-12 population of less than 900 students, Attica’s school system is home to one of the largest middle school and high school trap teams in the state.

Reprinted with permission from Attica Jr.-Sr. High School

The First Year of a Public School Trap Team


Central REGIONAL UPDATE

Attica Schools had found a coach, a place to practice, and gained the help of law enforcement, but they feared the hardest part was yet to come—funding the team. Starting any new program is a daunt-ing task, and they did not anticipate the support they were about to receive. The local Friends of NRA chairman, Paul Harding, shared funding sources with Mr. Marshall, and the funding started to be-come a reality. Attica Schools began filling out NRA Foundation grant requests, and they gratefully accepted their first grant from the Friends of NRA State Fund Committee shortly after. This $7,500 grant supplied the team with eight shotguns, eye and ear protection, and enough ammunition to get the program started.

Having now secured a coach, a home, the help of law enforcement and funding provided by The NRA Foundation, Indiana Youth Shooting Sports Foundation and the Midway USA Foundation, At-tica was ready to practice and compete. Attica’s trap team competes in the AIM4ATA (through the ATA) and the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) competitions. AIM4ATA has a great ambassador in State Director Keith Weller, who has provided the team with several resources and knowledge of the sport. SCTP State Director Mark Burgess has also fostered Attica’s trap team in their first year, and his help and knowledge were valuable and well received.

Currently 13 percent of the entire Attica Schools student popu-lation participates in the program. Attica has seen such a positive response to its shooting sports program that it is catching the eye of many others throughout the state. Mr. Marshall has offered to help in any way possible other schools that wish to pursue the shooting sports.

Tanner Marshall is a 9th grader at Attica Jr-Sr High School and he shoots a CZ USA 712 ALS. Tanner aspires to become a wildlife biologist.

Apply for an NRA Foundation grant at nrafoundation.org. Support the grant program by attending a Friends of NRA event! Find one near you at www.friendsofnra.org/Events.

Photos by Amy Haley Photography


REGIONAL UPDATE Southern

EARLIER THIS YEAR, I attended a regional Friends of NRA volunteer workshop in Gainesville, Fla. As we discussed the success of Florida’s

fundraising efforts for shooting sports, I realized that most of those in attendance did not really know how much their efforts and hard work are appreciated by the groups that receive NRA Foundation grants.

By Arlene Chauncey4-H Instructor, USA Archery Level III NTS Coach and Silver River Friends of NRA Committee MemberOcala, Marion County, Fla.

What Friends of NRA FUNDRAISING Means

T US

From my unique position as not only a Friends of NRA committee member but also an NRA Foundation grant recipient, I thought about how many other hard working volunteers all over the coun-try would like to know the impact of their efforts. So I resolved to share my story.

I am the 4-H leader/coach for the Arrowhead Archery Club in Marion County, Fla., at the UF/IFAS –Marion County Extension Service. Our club was founded in the 2010-2011 4-H year and initially had 12 members. Everyone had to provide their own equipment, and we begged range time from a local sporting goods store because we had no targets. During our first year we constant-ly turned away kids that wanted to learn archery but did not have equipment.

It became obvious that we were missing a large section of youth, and, as a youth development group, we were losing the opportu-nity to help shape tomorrow’s leaders today. We needed to provide equipment for the kids to use, but we had no idea where the money would come from, since clubs receive no funding from the county. Thus began our relationship with Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation’s grant program.

In the 2011-2012 session, we applied for and received our first NRA Foundation grant. We purchased bows, arrows and targets, and the county made space for us at the 4-H farm. Our club grew. We now had 30 members and a new problem—not enough trained instructors for the number of kids. However, even with our equipment and instructor limitations, we were bringing home State Championship titles and sending members to the National 4-H Shooting Sport Invitational.

Our reputation was growing and so were we. During our 2012-2013 session, several of our members were noticed by Rob Turner, a Level 4 USA Archery Coach and previous member of the Australian Olympic team, at the Easton-Newberry sports complex Olympic training center in Newberry, Fla. Coach Turner encour-aged six of our members to try out for one of the Junior Olym-pic Athletic Development (JOAD) clubs at that facility. Several

members joined a JOAD program, and two were asked to join the advanced training class instructed by Coach Turner and Amanda Kaminski assisted occasionally by Jake Kaminski, reigning Silver medalist from the 2012 summer Olympics.

In our current 2013-2014 session we now have six instructors; one is USA Archery Level 2 certified, two are Level 3 certified and all are 4-H certified. Our club has 47 members, and we still turned approx-imately 60 kids away. We received our second grant from The NRA Foundation in February and purchased an enclosed trailer and 3-D targets. We have 17 members on our competition team, and the trailer allows us to transport all our equipment safely and securely.

In four short years our club has produced 11 State Champions and six State Champion teams, and it has sent 12 members to the 4-H National Shooting Sports Invitational.

We have six members that train at the Easton-Newberry Olympic training center, and these same members compete not only in 4-H, but also in Archery Shooters Association, National Field Archery Association, National Archery Association, Florida Archery Association, JOAD and USA Archery events. They compete regionally and nationally, and one has even competed on the international level.

Five of those six youths started out using club equipment pro-vided by an NRA Foundation grant supported by Friends of NRA fundraising. Without Friends volunteers and donors and their efforts to promote the shooting sports, these kids may not have had these opportunities to learn, compete and succeed.

Thank you to Friends of NRA donors, sponsors and volunteers for all that you have helped our team members achieve and for your continued efforts in the future.

Want to apply for an NRA Foundation grant for your shooting sports program? Go to www.nrafoundation.org. Learn more about this grant-supported program on Facebook at Arrowhead Archery 4-H Club. Get involved with Friends of NRA in Florida! Visit us online at www.friendsofnra.org/FL.

ArrowheadARCHERY CLUB

TEAM STATISTICS

11 STATE CHAMPIONS

6 STATE CHAMPION TEAMS

6 MEMBERS TRAININGAT THE EASTON-NEWBURY

OLYMPIC TRANING CENTER

12 PARTICIPANTS INTHE 4-H NATIONAL

SHOOTING SPORTSINVITATIONAL

REGIONAL UPDATE Mid-West

By Catherine Barsanti, Event Support Coordinator, National Rifle Association

THE OLD ADAGE THAT “EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS” rings true for the Friends of NRA committee located in the small Brazos Valley region of Central Texas. From big beginnings as a founding committee when the Friends of NRA program began in 1992, to big accomplishments such as earning their place in a top level of High Caliber Club by bringing in over $100,000 at their banquets, this committee has never done anything in a small way.

In the past year, this propensity for magnitude in the Brazos Valley has been further illustrated by the whopping seven grants award-ed by The NRA Foundation to programs in the region, providing

opportunities to a wide variety of recipients. “Over the years we have [raised funds to support] many local aspects of the shooting sports: youth, collegiate, adult and law enforcement,” says Committee Chair John Lilly. “We range from what you might consider foundation clubs that are long term to new clubs just starting out.”

Among the older programs are successful collegiate teams like the Texas A&M Trap and Skeet Club and the nationally ranked Texas A&M Scholastic Pistol Program, as well as youth programs like Burleson County 4-H, whose history of shooting sports

training extends back nearly 50 years. Established programs also include Brazos Valley Skeet and Trap Club and the Brazos County 4-H Sportsman’s Club it supports. The 4-H Sportsman’s Club has grown substantially since its inception in 1976 as the first 4-H shotgun club in the nation, even through a loss of range space in 1995 and construction of a new range in 1997. “In the years that have followed [the new range construction], thousands of young people have had the opportunity to participate in shooting sports programs,” said the president of Brazos Valley Skeet and Trap Club, Mike Gentry. “The original construction of the range was made possible, in part, by a grant from The NRA [Foundation]; what an incredible support the NRA has been to us.”

BIGBrazos Valley

impact


Not only have grants provided the funds to keep existing programs thriving, but they have also assisted new shooting sports groups still gaining their footing. The brand new Grimes Coun-ty 4-H Shooting Sports Club used their grant to acquire quality equipment. Rick Atkinson, head of the program, shared, “The grant provided the financial resources needed for the club to serve the shooting sports needs of kids in the county.” Additionally, American Legion Earl Graham Post 159’s newly-founded air rifle program has also created a home for Texas youth.

“NRA Foundation-supported junior shooting sports are a great leveler of the playing field,” explains James Andrew, head of the EG 159 air rifle program. “Because of the generosity of The NRA Foundation and Friends of NRA, the American Legion youth shooting sports program in Bryan, Texas, has kept course and membership fees lower than virtually any other youth sports pro-gram in the area. It attracts youths from the highest-rated public, private and charter schools as well as several of the most disadvan-taged schools in Brazos County.”

“The target demands everyone stand up and take their best shot. It doesn’t care what path the shooter took to get to the firing line,” continues Andrew. “Your support of The NRA Foundation and Friends of NRA makes it possible for all youth to have a spot on that firing line so they can stand up and take their best shot at sports and at life.”

Brazos Valley Friends of NRA Chairman John Lilly plans to con-tinue the committee’s enthusiastic fundraising efforts to support new and existing local programs. He hopes that future funding can be awarded to women’s programs, ROTC shooting programs, Eddie Eagle and more in the area. “On my end, my bucket list for the Brazos Valley is still half full,” he emphasizes.

The positive mentality and sense of common purpose shared by the Brazos Valley committee and the local programs are an exceptional example of the way that Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation become a part of the community, involving and benefitting generations of shooting sports enthusiasts. But their story really reflects the camaraderie found in the Friends of NRA program throughout the country. Whether it be the little region of the Brazos Valley, the state of Texas, the entire Mid-West, or the nationwide Friends of NRA family, the support of the shooting sports creates a powerful community of individuals united by a lifestyle and an incredible cause.

Apply for an NRA Foundation grant at www.nrafoundation.org!


Formed in 1916 and known as the oldest sportsman’s group in Alas-ka, the Tanana Valley Sportsmen’s Association (T.V.S.A.) in Fairbanks is still going strong. The association has flourished in its nearly 100 years of existence, and it has been instrumental in Fairbanks and throughout Alaska in wildlife conservation and promotion of the shooting sports.

By Nicole McMahonEvent Marketing & Communications Manager, National Rifle Association

Tanana Valley Sportsmen’s Association

T.V.S.A. got its start from a group of sportsmen who transplanted 28 bison to Delta Junction. The last of the area’s indigenous bison died about 500 years ago, but this transplant from the National Bison Range in Montana to

Alaska reestablished a population of free-ranging bison that has grown to over 400. Today they both attract tourists and support the most popular permit hunt in the state. Ever since that historic moment, T.V.S.A. has dedicated much of its efforts to protecting precious wildlife in its area—from opposing the sale of wild game meat in restaurants in 1936 to establishing the Arctic Wildlife Range in 1957. It has been a role model and parent organization for other sportsmen’s groups in Alaska and continues to be a force for conservation.

Conserving Tradition and Talent

for a Century

It wasn’t until the 1980’s that T.V.S.A. expanded its mission and started youth and adult firearm safety education pro-grams. The Midnight Sun Sharpshoot-ers was formed and became Alaska’s largest and most respected junior shoot-ing club. T.V.S.A. also began supporting four Fairbanks high school rifle teams, two middle school rifle clubs and various adult training programs. During this time T.V.S.A. was known to provide top notch shooters to universities through-out the country, especially to Univer-sity of Alaska’s rifle team, the 10-time NCAA champion Alaska Nanooks.

T.V.S.A.’s activities came to a halt when its old clubhouse and range caught fire and burned to the ground on March 31, 2007. The association needed to find funding to build a new facility, and it turned to The NRA Foundation and Friends of NRA for help. It had previously received a grant in 1997 for training and safety programs, but T.V.S.A. was prepared to ask for a much larger sum in order to construct the new clubhouse and provide an avenue for its shooters to train.

In 2009 and 2010, T.V.S.A. received over $26,000 for classroom furniture and equipment for ongoing firearms education activities and for the rebuild-ing of the shooting range. In 2011 a $14,000 grant was pivotal in securing an air handling system for indoor shooting. Without this system shooters could not train indoors, an extremely important capability in Alaska’s -40 degree winter

temperatures. After the foundation of the shooting range and clubhouse were built, T.V.S.A. requested a range improvement grant of nearly $20,000 to increase safety and allow the association to generate more use by local shooting organizations. The most recent grant, awarded for nearly $48,000 in 2014, now enables the construction of a state-of-the-art air handling and ventilation system along with new plumbing and electrical work to provide power to ven-tilation fans, duct dampers and controls.

In total T.V.S.A. has received more than $170,000 from The NRA Foun-dation for range development and shooting sports education. Because of these grants and the access to high-qual-ity training and facilities they ensure, the Midnight Sun Sharpshooters team consistently takes top marks in 3-po-sition precision air rifle, international air rifle and 3-position small-bore rifle. Additionally, local high school, middle school, 4-H and University of Alaska teams have a safe and updated facility to train. And T.V.S.A. can continue being a place for the community to come to-gether for firearm education, safety and camaraderie.

Have a shooting sports program that needs support? Go to www.nrafoundation.org to apply for a grant! Support local programs by attending a Friends of NRA event. Learn more about Friends of NRA in Alaska by visiting friendsofnra.org/AK to find committees and events near you.

Western REGIONAL UPDATE

REGIONAL UPDATE Southwest


By Christina PaladeauEvent Marketing & Communications Coordinator, National Rifle Association

A substantial grant helps new shooters and new programs take flight in Arizona

he Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) has received grants from The NRA Foundation for many years, but 2013 marked a major increase in that fund-ing, corresponding with a rise in the number of new

shooters and shooting sports programs developing in The Grand Canyon State.


Southwest REGIONAL UPDATE

The AGFD sponsors numerous shooting sports programs in Arizona, but the department itself does not have any funding to purchase firearms. To avoid limiting the number of people it can effectively teach shooting sports and hunting, it relies on outside sources like The NRA Foundation to add to and replace its stock of firearms available for use by the programs it supports.

Last year the AGFD Shooting Ranch Branch received a grant of nearly $25,000 for firearms purchases. This substantial sum places the AGFD in a special group of grant recipients—fewer than 30 grants amounting to over $20,000 were awarded during 2013. More importantly, this funding allowed the AGFD Shooting Sports Program to forward its goals of providing the opportunity for anyone to become a hunter or shooter and eliminating the barriers associated with participation in the shooting sports.

Five years ago the AGFD started a loaner kit program to help accomplish these goals and experienced great success. Soon more kits were required to support the increasing demands of current outreach programs as well as the expected expansion of programs through partnerships with state, county and city parks, recreation-al groups, and elementary through high school programs. The firearms purchased with The NRA Foundation’s 2013 grant were sorted into loaner kits for use by AGFD sponsored events such as: the AGFD sponsored Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP); hunting camps; Parks and Recreation agency programs; and AGFD sponsored shooting sport courses and events.

The increased interest and participation in club shooting sports could be seen especially in the rapidly growing SCTP, which teaches students from age nine through graduation of college about safe use of hunting firearms and teamwork. SCTP participation grew by 20 percent in the 2012-2013 season, and the 2013 grant contributed to the program’s continuing success by allowing it to accommodate those growing numbers with three new teams equipped with the firearms essential to their operation.

“These firearms benefit the entire program because [the grant] allows new teams to join and also allows replenishment of firearms inventory across the entire state. These generous donations from The NRA Foundation are invaluable to the Arizona Scholastic Clay Target Program,” writes the AGFD. “We were successful in reach-ing our goals and objectives because we did not lose a single oppor-tunity to introduce the public to hunting or shooting sports.”

The majority of the grant-funded firearms went to new SCTP clubs and into the hands of its new shooters, but other programs like game camps and youth dove hunts have utilized them as well. With the support of The NRA Foundation and the availability of grant-funded firearms, the sky is the limit for AGFD-sponsored shooting sports programs. The department will continue reaching more and more new hunters and shooters and sustaining current participants, ensuring the continuation of firearms freedoms and shooting sports traditions.

Apply for a grant at www.nrafoundation.org! To learn more about the Arizona Friends of NRA events that raise money for local and statewide programs like this one, go to www.friendsofnra.org/AZ or email Field Rep Winston Pendleton at [email protected].

$25,000

Participants in an Arizona Game and Fish Department sponsored youth dove hunt display their birds. NRA Foundation grants make this program and others possible.

TO ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT GRANTED IN 2013

NE

AR

LY

NATIONAL NEWS Program Profile

FREEDOMWRITET

he NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund has announced the win-ners of its annual Youth Essay Contest celebrating the Second Amendment as an integral part of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Nearly 450 students submitted essays to the 2013 Youth Essay Contest, whose featured prompt was:

BY KYLE JILLSON

The Civil Rights Defense

Fund’s annual Second

Amendment essay

contest results are in.

INFREEDOMWRITE“The Second Amendment to the Constitution: Why it is Important to our Nation.”

Program Profile NATIONAL NEWS

Reprinted with permission from NRA Family Insights, June 2014

Entries were separated into two categories: Senior (grades 10-12) and Junior (grades 9 and below), and were judged on originality, scholarship and presentation.

“Once again, the Fund received a large number of entries, making the selection of winners a difficult task,” said Skipp Galythly, contest judge and NRA Assistant General Counsel. “But I always enjoy read-ing the essays and seeing how members of this generation look into the issue of the Second Amendment and form their own opinions.”

Seventeen-year-old Samantha Keng of Smyrna, Ga., took top honors in the Senior category for her essay “The Second Amend-ment: Why it is important to our nation.” In the Junior category, 14-year-old Anna Haverly of Mancos, Colo., won first place with

her essay “The Second Amendment: A Right or a Wrong.”All students enrolled in an elementary, junior high, or high

school—including homeschoolers—during the 2013-2014 aca-demic year, who had not previously placed in the contest in their respective category, were eligible to enter. Winners were awarded cash prizes of $1,000 for first place, $600 for second, $200 for third and $100 for receiving an honorable mention.

“It is never easy to narrow down the large number of well-writ-ten essays to just four winners in each category,” said Galythly. “Doing so for the Junior category this year proved especially tough and the Fund approved an additional honorable mention award, making this task just a bit easier.”

First Place, Junior Category: Anna Kate Haverly, Age 14“To many, guns bring up the topic of self-defense. If guns mount guard over a house-hold, most criminals will not relish a break-in. In 2010, a 15-year-old boy protected himself and little sister from two men who had forced their way into his house using his father’s AR-15. Again, in a more recent case, an elderly man staved off a young housebreaker with a handgun. 108,000 to 2.4 million times a year, says Wayne LaPi-erre, guns deter robbery and mugging, as in the suburb of Kennesaw in Atlanta, Ga. This suburb passed a law in 1982 requiring the head of every household to have at least one gun. The robbery rate immediately dropped by 89 percent. Coincidence? Not really.”

Second Place, Junior Category: Reagan Bush, Age 11

“During the ratification of the United States Constitution, my fellow Pennsylvanian Tench Coxe had much to say about the Second Amendment, all of which was positive. Tench Coxe wrote in the Federal Gazette in Philadelphia, ‘As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the mil-itary forces which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow-citizens, the people are confirmed by the next article in their right to keep and bear arms.’ What Coxe was pointing out was a senti-ment that was common among our founders, a fear that any future government would grow tyrannical.”

Third Place, Junior Category: Antonio Ferris, Age 14

“Another important point is that armed citizens discourage a foreign nation from successful invasion of the country. Not only would an aggressive nation have to defeat the military, but they would also have to deal with millions of armed citizens. The framers of the Constitution knew all too well the effectiveness of armed citizens rising up against organized armies—as they had just won their independence in just such a manner. Indeed, without access to firearms the war for independence would likely have been lost.”

What makes an essay a winner? Read the above excerpts from the top-ranked pieces to see what a little research, and a lot of talent, can do.

The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund is continuing the tradition in 2014 with another essay contest celebrating the Second Amend-ment as an integral part of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The theme for the essay is “What does the Second Amendment mean to you?” Students who are interested in competing in the contest should go to: www.nradefensefund.org/contests-scholar-ships.aspx. For more information about the NRA Civil Rights De-fense Fund or the Second Amendment Essay Contest, visit www.nradefensefund.org or call (703) 267-1250.

First Place, Senior Category: Samantha Keng, Age 17

“Self defense is a basic human right, a natural right, and the Second Amendment was created for an express purpose: To ensure that the American citizenry would have the means to protect themselves from a tyranny of any kind. The Second Amendment keeps a government honest, transparent and answerable to the citizenry; an unarmed citizenry means one vulnerable to the whims of a govern-ment that may not act in their best interest. During the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-tests in Beijing, for example, unarmed student rioters were met with military assault rifles and tanks sent to suppress the demonstrations by any means necessary. The people were left with no means of defense and no way to fight back. An event like this will never happen in America because of the Second Amendment.”

Second Place, Senior Category: Nicole Servais, Age 17

“It is a common misconception that our Founding Fathers ‘granted’ the American populace the right to own a gun. Rather, the Second Amendment is an inalienable right. Inalienable means that it is something the government can neither grant nor take away; it is inherently embedded within every citizen and completes the full scope of human rights. Our Founding Fathers did not ‘grant us a privilege.’ They listed the right to bear arms as a necessary and proper right instilled automatically within every citizen, and this is the right to protection. Just as the Constitution contains numerous checks and balances to keep the government operating within its power, the Second Amendment provides the final and most necessary check and balance: the people themselves.”

Third Place, Senior Category: Annette Droddy, Age 15

“It seems apparent that George Mason was right in saying “…to disarm the people is the best and most effective way to enslave them...” It is only when citizens are armed that they may fully enjoy their liberties. When the rights of a people to protect them-selves are removed, not only do the other most basic civil rights of man begin to disappear, but also the lives of those who do not submit to a morally unjust govern-ment.”

Reprinted with permission from NRA Family Insights, June 2014

www.nradefensefund.org/contests-scholarships.aspx

www.nradefensefund.org

www.nradefensefund.org


HUNTER SAFETYSAFEGUARDING AMERICA

FROM

TO


Spotlight NATIONAL NEWS

When first approached by NRA Field Representative for Western North Carolina Doug Merrill and asked to write an article about my success story, I was shocked to say the least. I had never considered the story of my shooting career to be of notable mention, having

spent my whole life around firearms and immersed in the shooting community. I grew up going to shooting competitions and competing against numerous amazing shooters. To think that my story was one of noteworthy success was a totally new notion for me.

Thanks to my dad, I was a card carrying member of the NRA since before I even knew what NRA stood for. By the time I reached high school and was eligible to participate on the school’s hunter safety team, shooting quickly became my number one priority. My ambition to excel and improve spilled over into every area of my life and quickly pushed me to the top of my team. By the end of my freshman year, I was captain of the North Davidson Hunter Safety Rifle Team, and by my senior year I had taken first in the state individually and participated on the first place rifle team in the state that year.

With the high costs associated with ammunition and other shooting supplies, the team never would have been able to achieve as much as it did without some addi-tional funding. Friends of NRA fundraising and The NRA Foundation grant program made that essential outside funding possible. The grants helped offset a large portion of our expenses each year and made it possible for us to practice and compete.

When I reported for US Army Basic Training in Fort Sill, Okla., in October of 2011, I quickly began to rise to the top of my class due to not only my distinct ability to accurately and consistently place rounds down range, but also because of my ability to teach and share my knowledge with other soldiers in my unit. While qualifying with our M16A2 rifles, my drill sergeant instructed me to work with and teach individuals on the fundamentals of shooting. Many of those individuals have employed and currently employ the skills I taught them in defense of our country. That instruction has in essence helped to save the lives of my brothers and sisters in arms on multiple occasions.

In the fall of 2012 my unit was mobilized to Egypt’s volatile Sinai Peninsula as part of the Multinational Force and Observers in support of the Camp David Accords. I was again recruited for my innate shooting ability to put on multiple shooting workshops and to compete in the annual force skills competition. Out-shooting over 100 other individuals from more than a half a dozen other nations, I took first place in the shooting portion of the competition simply by employing the skills I learned as a member of the North Davidson Hunter Safety Team. Those years of valuable experience would have not been possible without the continued support of Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation.

I see the story of my shooting career not so much as one of overwhelming success but as one of overwhelming support and dedication. I would like to give a special thanks to Mr. Tom Kearns and to my father David Strange for all of the knowledge and dedication with which they have blessed me and to Friends of NRA for its con-tinued support of so many life changing programs.

SPC Strange now participates in his local events hosted by theTriad Friends of NRA committee outside Winston-Salem, N.C. To support your local shooting sports programs, find an event near you at www.friendsofnra.org/Events.

By SPC Shane Strange, U.S. Army

I see the story of

my shooting career

not so much as one

of overwhelming

success but as one

of overwhelming

support and

dedication.

SAFEGUARDING AMERICA

“

”

A personal story of support, service and success.


Mr. Stuart L. WalkerNevada

Dr. Arnold W. GoldschlagerCalifornia

Mr. John J. Schumann, Jr.Florida

AnonymousOhio

The Adele Bogart Fitzpatrick FundMassachusetts

Mr. William A. BachenbergPennsylvania

The Honorable Bill K. BrewsterDistrict of Columbia

Mr. Frank R. Brownell, IIIIowa

Mr. Peter R. BrownellIowa

Mr. and Mrs. William HayesCalifornia

Mr. Thomas H. Held, Ed.SMaryland

Mr. and Mrs. Eric JohansonCalifornia

Mr. George KollitidesConnecticut

Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. KrileyNorth Carolina

Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. LeeNevada

Mr. Walter F. McLallen, IVConnecticut

Mr. Gregory MurtlandMichigan

Mr. Donald O’SheiWyoming

Mr. R. J. Pepper, IIITexas

Mr. Samuel B. SaxtonPennsylvania

Mr. T. G. SteeleVirginia

Mr. Robert A. UnkovicPennsylvania

Mr. Regis J. SynanPennsylvania

Mr. and Mrs. John A. KampsCalifornia

Philip R. Agnes Lead TrustFlorida

Lt. Colonel Robert T. Sweeney, USAF (Ret.)California

Mr. and Mrs. John D. BryanOregon

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur H. Lamb, Jr.Massachusetts

Ms. Deborah D. ToddLouisiana

Natchez Shooting Supplies, Inc.Tennessee

Mr. Tim ChoateFlorida

The Nextgen Foundation Charitable TrustMaryland

Cheaper Than DirtTexas

Ms. Catherine B. TaylorTexas

Mr. Dan W. Cook, IIITexas

Mrs. Gaye L. KelseyTexas

The Robert M. Lee FoundationNevada

Dick and Amelia SaulsburyTexas

Blackhawk Products GroupVirginia

Laser Shot, Inc.Texas

Mr. James D. NycePennsylvania

Thomas and BeckySue YackleyIllinois

Mr. and Mrs. Ward M. French, IIIConnecticut

Mrs. Judith H. WoodsMissouri

Ohio Gun Collectors AssociationOhio

Big Dog Family Preservation TrustTexas

Collectors Firearms, Inc.Texas

David & Lorna Gladstone FoundationVirginia

Mr. Leo A. HoltNew Jersey

Mr. David D. JacksonTexas

Mr. Thomas R. KelseyTexas

Mr. John D. PearsonMichigan

Mr. William A. Posey, Esq.Ohio

Mrs. Peggy ThompsonDelaware

TAG Marketing Solutions LLCOhio

Mr. Christian D. KlanicaPennsylvania

Mr. Joshua L. PowellMichigan

Graf & Sons, Inc.Missouri

Lauer Custom WeaponryWisconsin

Mrs. Betty S. Mayes-PettyKanasas

AnonymousIowa

Cors FoundationVirginia

Lucky Rental Tool, LLCTexas

Lucky Services, Inc.Texas

New Centaur, LLCIndiana

Mr. Peter W. RuleWashington

Mr. Glennon T. GingoHawaii

Mr. Armour WinslowOhio

Dr. & Mrs. Peter LarsenOhio

Mr. Raymond C. RoyNorth Carolina

Smith Family TrustCalifornia

Robert C. Colven Education TrustDelaware

HalliburtonVirginia

Lucky Health & SafetyTexas

Ammo.netGeorgia

Mrs. Jane B. KellerTexas

J & G Sales, Ltd.Arizona

Mr. Kenneth J. AntosFlorida

Mr. William F. BahlOhio

Mr. Ralph W. Bastian, Jr.California

Mrs. Vickie L. BellKentucky

Mr. Albert M. Biedenharn, IIITexas

Mr. Clifford T. Burgess, Jr.Virginia

Mrs. T. Kay GarrettTexas

Shad R. KetcherMinnesota

Mr. George F. LangOhio

Mrs. Nancy E. LawtonIndiana

Mr. James MartinPennsylvania

Mr. William R. Middelthon, Jr.Florida

AnonymousOhio

Ms. Kristi Kay SchillerTexas

Ms. Elizabeth B. SearleColorado

Mrs. Gerry ShepherdCalifornia

Ms. Susan L. StraubKentucky

Dr. and Mrs. Gary SweetenOhio

Mr. Nicholas C. TaylorTexas

Donald E. Weihl, Esq.Illinois

J. D. Williams, Esq.Texas

Lt. Governor David H. DewhurstTexas

Gary, Janice Shepherd & FamilyOhio

NRA Foundation Donors

GIFTS OF $5K-$25K

GIFTS OF $25K+

GIFTS OF $1K-$5K


Mr. Brian W. ClementsPennsylvania

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Angelo, Jr.Texas

Mr. David H. DaceIllinois

Mr. Roy E. HansonCalifornia

Mr. Michael S. McGrawOhio

Mr. Anthony C. PerryRhode Island

The San Francisco FoundationCalifornia

Mrs. Sherri TorresIndiana

Continental Army USFlorida

AnonymousArizona

Scott L. Bach, Esq.New Jersey

Galco InternationalArizona

Mr. Charles B. CoffmanCalifornia

Mr. Daniel O. MaldonadoTexas

Mrs. Donna M. RiceTexas

Mr. Robert L. SilvaCalifornia

Ms. Mary M. MillerColorado

Breitman Family FoundationNew Jersey

Mr. Stephen W. BurnettCalifornia

Ms. Susan HolmCalifornia

Ms. Stacy L. KundeCalifornia

Ms. Kathryn A. LynchCalifornia

Silicon Valley Community Foundation (Chevron)California

Mr. Gerald H. UpholtCalifornia

Mr. Tyler T. SchroppVirginia

Estate of Alan W. KingIndiana

Estate of Donald R. WatsonCalifornia

Estate of Earnest H. LeighTexas

Estate of John O. VaughanNew Mexico

Estate of Samuel M. BasesNew York

Estate of Thomas R. JacksonMichigan

Mr. Steven AlbrightNew York

Mr. Robert S. BrownVirginia

Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. CarrickOregon

Daniel DefenseGeorgia

Ms. Juliette Bach FarnhamVirginia

Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. FunkhouserOhio

Mr. Glen HoyerVirginia

Mrs. Phyllis JonesNorth Carolina

Mr. Max F. KirkPennsylvania

Colonel Thomas J. RegelGeorgia

Wallace N. Weber, COL, US Army (Ret.)Kansas

Elizabeth BurgwegerTom and BeckySue Yackley

Randy ClementsMs. Marcia Brown

Tony CoxTom and BeckySue Yackley

Donald E. CranePDC United Illuminating Company

Duane CrankMr. Kevin L. Bahr

James CrawfordMs. Sarah C. Roberts

Carrie HerbertsonMs. Kathryn A. Lynch

Wes ItoCanyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club

Stephen Falkner McKinneyMs. Elizabeth A. Hall

Ron ParkankasCanyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club

F. Thomas PetermanMr. and Mrs. J. Richard Peterman

Jeremy PriceNorthern Dutchess Rod & Gun Club, Inc.

Leonard SenkarikMr. William E. Meiggs, Jr.

Theodore C. VreniosMs. Ruth W. BlakesleeMs. Frances E. VreniosMr. and Mrs. Andrew Vrenios

February - April

GIFTS OF $250-$1K ESTATES

Listed contributions do not necessarily reflect total giving for the year. We make every effort to ensure accuracy of donor names.

If you notice any errors or ommisions, please contact us at 800-423-6894 or [email protected].

IN MEMORY OF GIFTS

IN KIND GIFTS

THE NRA FOUNDATION11250 WAPLES MILL ROADFAIRFAX, VA 22030

NONPROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDTHE NRA

FOUNDATION

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