This event raised funds for the NRA Foundation, supporting educational programs including the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program.

From TriValleyCentral.com:

Nice turnout for Friends of NRA Tuneup

The Pinal County Friends of NRA annual Tuneup Shoot held at the Casa Grande Trap Club Sunday was well attended. The event gives shotgun hunters a chance to hone their skills on flying clay targets before dove and quail seasons roll around. It also serves as a fundraiser for the NRA Foundation.

“We had 60 participants at this year’s fun and tuneup event, and that’s double what we had at the same time last year,” said Dale Cassity, Friends of NRA committee member. “We had more than a dozen kids participate and several more women attended over what we had last year. This is truly a great family event, and everyone had fun.

“We had a variety of people attend. Many were seasoned shooters that wanted to sharpen their skills for the coming hunting season, and we had a few who had never fired a shotgun before, and they were able to learn some trap and skeet shooting skills from the coaches we had out here. We had some others that just wanted to watch, to see what this sport is all about.

“We’re thankful to the Casa Grande Trap Club for allowing us to host this event here. As a reminder, the club hosts practice sessions out here every Monday night, and they’ll even open up the facility for parties of four or more that want to come out and try their hand at trap and skeet.”

According to Cassity, the event that was held Sunday was to raise funds for the NRA Foundation so that it can continue its educational and safety programs, such as Eddie Eagle and Refuse To Be a Victim. 

Read the entire article here.

From Illinois' TribLocal.com, we learn about two youth groups who recently received generous NRA Foundation grants.

The area's Shooting Sports Committee Chair Tom Petrik says the $5000 grant is making a big difference for the youth: "Every grant we get is a step in the right direction for being able to provide all the program materials for all the age groups,” Petrik said.

Local Youth Receive Grants to Help Them Teach Shooting Sports

Two Venturing Crews of the Northwest Suburban Council in Mt. Prospect, IL, have each received a grant from the Friends of NRA state grant fund for Illinois. Both Crews of youth and their adult leaders will use the equipment to increase their ability to teach shooting sports at the Boy Scout camps they serve.

Venturing is the newest program of the Boy Scouts of America, and provides programs of citizenship, leadership, service, community & family, outdoors, and fitness. Each Crew decides whether they want to be all female, all male, or co-ed. The youth who make up these Venturing Crews are 14 to 21 years old, adult leaders over 21. Venturing participants learn the skills for their specialty through leadership, group activities, adult association, recognition, high adventure and by teaching others.

Crew 477, composed of the staff at Camp Napowan in Wild Rose, WI, received a $5000 grant that will allow them to purchase some new firearms and archery equipment for their rifle, archery, and shotgun ranges at the camp. Crew 478, comprised of the staff for Camp Lakota, Woodstock, IL, also received a $5000 grant that will allow them to purchase some pellet guns for older Scouts to use, gun vaults for equipment storage and a lockable ammunition cabinet. In addition, they will receive both youth and adult bows and assorted archery equipment to use at their camp, equipment that is also loaned out to local scout districts to hold Day Camp programs for Cub Scouts.

Read the entire story.

If you're in the northern Illinois area, check out the upcoming Friends of NRA banquet, set for September 30 at Atlantis Banquets in Arlington Heights.

From Colorado's Telluride Daily Planet:

Shooting in the dark 

While the rain doesn’t stop the elk and deer from roaming, it does cost hunters valuable target practice time, but the Ten Ring Gun Club outside of Nucla now has an indoor shooting range that will soon be open to archers as well as gun enthusiasts.

“We’ve had this Quonset hut for 15 years,” said club vice-president Forrest Herring, “and now, with a $20,000 grant from Friends of the NRA (National Rifle Association), we were finally able to make a big push in the spring and get it useable.”

The hut is now insulated and heated, and equipped with indoor lights, as well as a classroom at the back, which has been used for Hunter Safety courses. The walls of the classroom can be removed, expanding the 50-foot gun range to 60 feet for archery target practice.

“We’re set up for your basic small-bore rifle and pistol,” said Herring, “but nothing big inside.” Outdoors, the range stretches toward the La Sal peaks, and spills over a hill to include an electric trap thrower and skeet house, several sighting benches, and a three-gun shoot.

Continue reading here.

Learn more about the NRA's grassroots fundraising banquets -- Friends of NRA.

An NRA Day event in Wisconsin was recently featured in the Columbus Journal. Sponsored by the Dodge County Friends of NRA, the event allowed area families to try their hand and the shooting sports and enjoy a day of family fun.

Sportsman's association holds family day

NRA Family Day was held July 31 at the Columbus Sportsman's Association (CSA), sponsored by Dodge County Friends of the NRA.

After a safety briefing, families were given hands-on instruction for shooting shotguns, single action shooting (cowboy), pistol and rifle by volunteer instructors associated with the Dodge County Friends of the NRA and CSA members.

Camp Director Steve Steinbeck would like to thank the volunteers who made the event possible: Rick Tebeest, Art Nevinf, Jerry Quiesser, DuWayne Kuenzi, Irene Pawlisch, Paul Mayer and Mike Fredricks.

NRA Day is an annual summer event at CSA made possible by the volunteers, NRA and CSA support.

Jamie Henning of Beaver Dam shared how he had not hunted or shot since childhood and had learned about the event at a recent hunter safety course in Beaver Dam that he had taken with his son in hopes of returning to the woods. During the day he told everyone, "Next year, we are bringing my wife. She would love this." Henning's word of the day was, "Wow!"

This day provided an opportunity for people to experience all kinds of firearm disciplines unfamiliar to them in a safe educational range environment. There was a good deal of friendly competition for bragging rights between spouses and siblings at some stations, making it a fun relaxed day for everyone.

Because the Friends of the NRA supports the 4-H shooting sports projects, a special invitation went out to Columbia County 4-H families to use the day to explore shooting sports. Starting in January 2011, CSA will be offering 4-H courses in wildlife/ecology, air pistol and archery. Any 4-H youth may participate as long as they are registered in that specific shooting sports project. Go to www.csa12.com for the complete 4-H shooting sports schedule, including rifle and muzzle loader.

Continue reading here.

Interested in attending a NRA Day event? Find one in your area.

"See below for a really nice letter from a Friends of NRA volunteer, Jerry Silvas, who also happens to be a shooting coach for a youth shooting club," Event Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon writes NRAblog.

My name is "Coach" Jerry and I help teach youth about firearm safety, rifle marksmanship, and coach competitive precision smallbore/air rifle. I am also a Friends of NRA volunteer.

People always want to know what happens to the money raised by the efforts of Friends of NRA. They know half the money goes to local and state programs and the other half goes to national programs, but they don’t often hear from the clubs and organizations directly affected by the support of the Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation.

I hope I can shed light on how valuable the money raised by this program is through my story of our grant to broaden and improve the Blue Water Sportsman's Association's Junior Smallbore Division (BWSA Jr SB Division) in Port Huron, Mich.

I've been with the BWSA Jr SB Division since 2001 when my son started shooting with the club. When we joined the program the equipment included precision smallbore rifles, military surplus web slings, mats, ammo and targets hung on a cable.

Early on we recognized we needed to round out our equipment if we wanted to truly offer our youth an opportunity to learn marksmanship and experience the educational benefits of competition. More...

From Brian Peters, Director of Washington State's Wolverton Mt. Gun Club and Friends of NRA volunteer: 

Friends of NRA works!

The Friends of NRA program really works! Just ask the members and guests of Wolverton Mt. Gun Club (WMGC), a small range in southwest Washington.

The WMGC was decimated during an unexpected and rare December 2008 storm. The heavy snowstorm, followed by rain, and sub-freezing conditions left a four-foot block of ice on the roofs of the club's buildings (pictured at right). The club has three ranges all with shooting sheds. Two were heavily damaged and one was totally destroyed.

Two weeks and a snow blower later, vehicle access to its range is restored. With the range heavily damaged and use restricted, the club considered its options. As it is with most small gun clubs, funds were limited.

Friends of NRA to the rescue!

A grant requesting funding for the rebuild was presented to the Washington State Friends of NRA grant committee (fortunately the grant committee's meeting was that month in January). The state Friends of NRA grant committee awarded $17,000 to the club for repairs. The club was able to continue to use the facility in a limited fashion (weather permitting) and Hunter Education classes, 4H shooting and Boy Scouts were able to carry on.

As funding became available from The NRA Foundation, permits were obtained and a contractor was hired. The fathers of Troop 320, a local Boy Scout troop that regularly uses the range cleared the debris from the range buildings; what a bonfire they had. In June of 2009, the range was back in full operation with all roof replacement and repairs completed.

Continue reading here.

The NRA Foundation is the country’s leading charitable organization in support of the shooting sports, awarding more than $140 million since its inception in 1990. Learn more about the NRA Foundation.

From the Silver Pinyon Journal:

NRA grant assists S&R with new equipment

WINNEMUCCA — A recent grant from the Humboldt River Friends of the NRA will allow the Humboldt County Search & Rescue team to expand on their ability to go mobile in the outlying areas of the county.

The total amount awarded was $10,596.25, which was used to purchase a Yamaha Rhino 450 and an ATV trailer, both of which were purchased locally.

Sheriff Ed Kilgore said the Yamaha has already been put to the test in a search for a reported missing person on Monday (June 14). The missing man was safely located.

Undersheriff Curtiss Kull noted that over the last couple of the months the Humboldt County S&R has been involved in several rescues of lost or stranded persons.

Highlighting the need for the new vehicle, he pointed out these rescues have been conducted in very isolated areas of the county as well as a neighboring county (Elko).

He commented, “To access some of these very out-of-the-way locations, it is necessary for the Search and Rescue Unit to utilize other methods than just four wheel drive trucks or SUV’s.”

The members of the Humboldt County S&R applied for the grant last October to assist in purchasing equipment. The actual title of the grant was “The National Rifle Association Foundation, Humboldt River Friends of the NRA.”

This is the second grant the HCSO S&R Unit has applied for from the NRA. Last year the Unit received a grant from the NRA Foundation for $16,125.

Continue reading.

The NRA Foundation is the country’s leading charitable organization in support of the shooting sports, awarding more than $140 million since its inception in 1990. Learn more about the NRA Foundation. 

The NRA Foundation has a broad reach. Here, two grants help a Jr. ROTC program purchase rifles:

NRA grant helps York’s JROTC

Learning to shoot straight is kind of important for anyone interested in a military career, and with help from small grants from the National Rifle Association Senior Chief Scott Moss is finding it a little easier to teach that skill to his Navy Junior ROTC students.

In the past three years the YCHS NJROTC program got a total of $3,500 from the national gun rights organization through its NRA Teach Freedom Foundation grants program. Two years ago the group got a $2,000 grant, this year it secured another $1,500.

“With that (grant money) and some other money we raised we bought 10 $400 air rifles,” Moss said. v The rifles are used by the 8-12 member Marksmanship Team selected from the approximately 170 NJROTC students. The team has been competing in Civilain Marksmanship Program competitions for the last 17 years ever since Lt. Cmdr. John Hollifield started the program.

“When we started the program 17 years ago, the Navy provided funds for bottom of the line air rifles,” Moss said. “The NRA grant allowed us to buy some top of the line models.” v In additiuon to the rifles, the group also has purchased spotting scopes, shooting stands and competition pellets for the guns.

Continue reading here.

The NRA Foundation provides grants to all sorts of shooting clubs and organizations. Here, a Wisconsin club house gets a makeover:

Weston Trap Club improves facility for its guests

Even though the weather was nice for the Weston Trap Club's Amateur Trap Association registered shoot May 15 and 16, just as many people watched the action from inside the club house as outside.

The club house recently was renovated with six large picture windows on the south side overlooking the shooting field.

"We received a lot of positive feedback from people that have been here before for other shoots. They love the view and being able to see the shooters on the lines," said Joe Kostyn, the secretary of the club.

The new view was paid for with grant money the club received in 2009 from the Friends of the National Rifle Association. The club also expanded the clubhouse and added a classroom, office, registration area and rest rooms with showers.

"With the new facilities, everything operated flawlessly," said ATA co-chairman Russ Slaby.

Continue reading here.

New York State Friends of NRA Communications Director Bradd Vickers (left) with Greene Rod & Gun Club President Nick Freije.

From Bradd Vickers, a stellar NRA volunteer:

The Greene Rod and Gun Club is a small sportsman's club located in rural upstate New York on 94 acres of land.

The Club recently received one of the largest grants awarded this year in NYS by the NRA foundation. The local club regularly holds registered ATA shoots, trap, skeet and 5 stand leagues, as well as being the home base of the “Border Rangers,” a cowboy action shooter competition. They also offer free use of the club to the Greene Police Department, Boys Scouts, North American Versatile Hunting Dogs of America (NAVHDA), hunter safety courses and youth educational projects. They annually donate to the Greene Lions Club, Rotary Club, and award a scholarship to the Greene High School. They also open their facility to the public for a fishing derby at the well stocked on-site pond for youth five to ten years old.

A contractor recently purchased the land adjacent to the club with plans of residential development. This has forced the club to move five ranges so that they can comply with the "500 feet law."

This involves clearing and grading land, building berms, and constructing a new shelter, shooting benches and a storage building. The grounds will also have to be limed and seeded. The cost of this project is approximately $25,000 to $30,000.  

“We greatly appreciate the $5,000.00 grant from The NRA Foundation [which] will help offset some of the expense,” Greene Rod & Gun Club President Nick Freije said. “When Bradd explained how important it was for us to participate in the Friends of the NRA fundraising banquet, we really didn’t expect to see this much money come back to the community.”

More...

Another Annual Meeting event this past Thursday was the NRA Foundation Banquet and Auction. Sponsored by Leupold, the night was filled “with games, raffles, and live and silent auctions featuring amazing high-quality merchandise and unique firearms.”

Hot on the blocks were firearms signed by Wayne LaPierre, a puzzle painted by various employees of the NRA, and a wide assortment of other guns and paraphernalia. All money raised through Friends of NRA events goes directly to the programs of the NRA.

Part of the event Thursday evening was recognition of the top Friends of NRAregional volunteers from across the nation, as pictured at right. “We have these people to thank for the advancement of our program throughout the nation,” Managing Director of NRA’s Field Operations Kyle Weaver announced. Each volunteer was presented with a plaque.

Region Volunteers of the Year:
Eastern Region: Maryland: Randy and Suzanne Lewis, Washington Co.
Central Region: Tennessee: Tracy Hightower, Kentucky Lake
Mid West Region: Oklahoma: Ron Tarrant, Southeastern Oklahoma
Southern Region: Florida (Southern): John and Jean Gettle, South Bay
Western Region: Alaska: Denny Hamann, Alaska State

The auction included donated hunting trips, firearms, and products from all over the nation. This event happens each year at the very beginning of the Annual Meetings, Thursday evening, and requires a ticket. If you haven’t attended this event, look to 2011 for your opportunity! You'll get the chance to meet more than 1,600 of your NRA family members – and the opportunity to bid on some unique items.

The NRA Foundation hosted a Sportsmen’s Brunch this morning where attendees had the opportunity to meet with NRA leaders, enjoy the camaraderie of fellow outdoorsmen, and bid on more than a dozen hunts. “Many of these have been donated by outfitters, so what we get from here is pure profit,” Kyle Weaver said. In addition to the live auction, the brunch featured several silent auctions and games similar to those found at Friends of NRA events.

NRA President Ron Schmeits addressed the crowd for a few moments, speaking from his experiences as a hunter. “Thank you for your dedication to this country’s hunting heritage,” he told the group.

Held in the same room as last night’s NRA Foundation’s National Banquet, the brunch featured moose motifs and antler centerpieces. Some 900 tickets were sold, and the room was full by the time breakfast was served at 10 a.m.

NRA’s Executive Director of General Operations Kayne Robinson, also an avid hunter, spent a few minutes talking about the programs of the NRA. “What a treat to be able to have a breakfast with 900 close friends,” he said. “Thank you for being here, and for all you do.”

NRAblog is on site through Monday morning reporting on the programs of this Annual Meeting. Stay tuned!

The NRA Foundation has awarded a total of $20,000 through the 2010 Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) Grand Scholarship contest, whose pool of applicants came from 2009 summit attendees. The scholarships are paid directly to the accredited college or technical school of the student’s choice.

Scholarships awarded include:

• $6,000 - Alyssa Ferrin, Phoenix, Arizona
• $5,000 - Ben French, Paradise, Montana
• $3,000 - Holly Stewart, Nashville, Tennessee
• $3,000 - Alexis Zobel, Shelbyville, Indiana
• $1,500 - Stacy Schlotzhauer, New Franklin, Missouri
• $500 - Korbin Kiblinger, Redmond, Oregon
• $500 - Justice Locatelli, Corralitos, California
• $500 - Lisa-Marie Rieckhoff, West Allis, Wisconsin
• Honorable Mention - Mackenzie DeRuyter, Valleyford, Washington
• Honorable Mention - Colin Wait, Durango, Colorado

To apply, students must first attend the national Youth Education Summit. After attending, students have eight months to work on a Grand Scholarship application where they develop a portfolio that communicates their experience at Y.E.S. and how it has contributed to their personal growth and introduce an NRA program to their community. Many students talked with local media, volunteered at Friends of NRA events, and started Eddie Eagle GunSafe® programs in their communities. Applications were judged on quality, diversification, and quantity. All of the entries showed impressive characteristics of each individual.

More...

The following comes from Channel 34 in Binghamton, NY:

Greene, NY Sportsman's Club Gets NRA Foundation Grant 

A small sportsman's club in rural upstate New York, with 94 acres of land, recently received one of the largest grants awarded this year in NYS by the NRA foundation. The local club regularly holds registered ATA shoots, trap, skeet and 5 stand leagues, as well as being the home base of the “Border Rangers,” a cowboy action shooter competition. They also offer free use of the club to the Greene Police Department, Boys Scouts, North American Versatile Hunting Dogs of America (NAVHDA), hunter safety courses and youth educational projects. They annually donate to the Greene Lions Club, Rotary Club, and award a scholarship to the Greene High School. They also open their facility to the public for a fishing derby at the well stocked on-site pond for youth 5 to 10 years old.

A contractor recently purchased the land adjacent to the club with plans of residential development. This has forced the club to move 5 ranges so that they can comply with the "500 feet law". This involves clearing and grading land, building berms, and constructing a new shelter, shooting benches and a storage building. The grounds will also have to be limed and seeded. The cost of this project would be approximately $25,000 to $30,000. The Greene Rod & Gun Club President, Nick Freije said “We greatly appreciate the $5,000.00 grant from the NRA Foundation, this will help offset some of the expense.” “When Bradd Vickers, last year’s local Chenango County FNRA committee chair, explained how important it was for us to participate in the Friends of the National Rifle Association (FNRA) fundraising banquet, we really didn’t expect to see this much money come back to the community.”

Continue reading the story here.

Thanks to Event Services Manager Jeremy Greene for the following:

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