2016 Friends of NRA National Corporate Sponsor Program

The grassroots fundraising efforts organized by Friends of NRA’s countrywide network of Field Representatives, volunteers, attendees and donors who contribute to the local events would not be possible without the additional support of the program’s generous and enthusiastic corporate sponsors. Backed by a group of continuing industry sponsors, Friends of NRA is primed to continue achieving greater success and reaching more shooting sports enthusiasts in 2016.
“Industry support and corporate sponsors are vital to what Friends of NRA does in fundraising for The NRA Foundation.” 
“Industry support and corporate sponsors are vital to what Friends of NRA does in fundraising for The NRA Foundation,” shares NRA General Operations Director of Industry Partnerships John da Silva. “With their commitment the program continues to flourish, providing exclusive product to its events nationwide and increasing the funding available to firearms training and education programs through the grant program.”

The highest level of industry support for Friends of NRA is the National Corporate Sponsor Program’s exclusive Guardian level. Since 2013 Daniel Defense and Friends of NRA have been building a valuable relationship in service to America’s shooting sports traditions and enthusiasts, and this year those efforts continue thanks to Daniel Defense signing on for a third year as the Guardian level sponsor.

The relationship began when Daniel Defense started supplying rifles through the Vendor Direct program and has grown stronger each year since as it increased support in 2014, 2015 and now 2016 as National Corporate Sponsor.

“We are proud to continue our support of Friends of NRA,” says Daniel Defense Director of US Sales Bill Robinson. “This partnership continues to grow and is a great opportunity for Daniel Defense to give back to The NRA [Foundation] and help support their efforts.”

Founder Marty Daniel and his wife are passionate about supporting shooting programs focused on education and training for youth and women in particular, an interest that perfectly connects with The NRA Foundation’s goals to support educational programs that ensure the continuation of America’s proud shooting and hunting heritage for generations to come. But Daniel Defense’s commitment to Second Amendment freedoms extends beyond the Friends program as well; in 2015 it signed on for a two-year agreement as the presenting sponsor of the new NRA America’s Rifle Challenge (ARC) and Match programs.

Over the past decade and more, Baron Technology, Inc., has been doing engraving and customization on Friends of NRA firearms. It has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in technical and artistic services and is now the program’s main source for engraving on standard package knives and firearms. David Baron is a much-respected leader in the industry with regards to his engraving capabilities and several manufactures use his unique services for enhancing products for special editions. The uniqueness and exclusivity added to Friends of NRA merchandise by Baron plays a critical role in creating desirable items for event attendees. “They are an essential part of what we do,” remarks NRA Volunteer Fundraising Merchandise Manager Kathy Purtell. In 2016, Baron continues to support the Friends program with donations of its valuable services.
“There has never been a more important time, in the history of this great country, to make serious and meaningful contributions to protecting our rights and freedoms.”
“There has never been a more important time, in the history of this great country, to make serious and meaningful contributions to protecting our rights and freedoms,” emphasizes David Baron, president of Baron Technology, Inc. “I am pleased to donate all of the design and engraving costs of the Remington 870 Wingmaster 200th Anniversary Edition shotgun to the 2016 Friends of NRA Standard Merchandise Package.” Baron is proud to support the work of the NRA and Friends of NRA as true guardians of Second Amendment rights.

In 2012 GASTON J. GLOCK style LP joined Friends of NRA’s efforts as a statewide underwriter in Georgia, home of its U.S. headquarters. In 2014 and 2015 the manufacturer of shooting sports lifestyle gear and accessories widened its reach by becoming a National Corporate Sponsor, and GASTON continues that support in 2016. “By supporting Friends of NRA we can reach a large audience of strong shooting and hunting enthusiasts and a lot of young people,” says CEO of GASTON J. GLOCK style USA Beate Arnold. “NRA’s traditions and goals are enduring principles. We hope to create the same legacy with our products and our philosophy to protect our environment.”

Arnold highlights GASTON’s and Friends of NRA’s shared interest in preserving the shooting sports lifestyle, a goal which focuses on preserving quality of life and traditions. In addition to its 2016 sponsorship, for the second year GASTON will make and donate Coolmax® shooting shirts with the NRA Logo and ‘Wall of Guns’ text to the NRA Foundation events at the Great American Outdoor Show and NRA Annual Meeting. It will also supply the NRA with Damascus knives made from the recycled steel of an old American M48 tank barrel. “We are always looking to expand the reach of our shooting and hunting products while supporting NRA and NRA Foundation efforts to provide opportunities for all kinds of firearms training,” Arnold notes.

Henry Repeating Arms’ involvement with The NRA Foundation began years ago with their participation as a reliable vendor for the Friends of NRA program. In 2015 the manufacturer of classic rifles “Made in America, or not made at all” expanded on that commitment as a National Corporate Sponsor and sponsor of the Wall of Guns and NRA Foundation Banquets at both the 2015 Great American Outdoor Show (GAOS) and NRA Annual Meetings. Henry also donated a one-of-a-kind Henry Repeating Arms 2015 Ford F-150 Lariat and Henry Big Boy rifle which were auctioned off on GunBroker.com to benefit The NRA Foundation. As a 2016 sponsor of Friends of NRA Henry will donate tens of thousands more dollars in monetary support and firearms to the program and once again sponsor the Wall of Guns and NRA Foundation Banquets at both GAOS and NRA Annual Meeting. Henry has also contributed a great deal to other NRA programs through roles including presenting sponsor of NRA Gun Gurus, supporting sponsor of NRA All Access, and advertiser for NRA Publications.

“My family has been in the gun business since 1911 with the NRA by our side the whole time—defending our Second Amendment rights, upholding our traditions of hunting and the shooting sports, and tirelessly promoting firearms safety,” says Anthony Imperato, president of Henry Repeating Arms. “It is an honor and privilege to work with the NRA and Friends of NRA. Through our sponsorship I’ve become more acquainted with the hard work that goes into Friends of NRA events, and I want to say thank you from Henry Repeating Arms. We appreciate it, we recognize it, and we choose to support the NRA to the best of our ability.”
"Through our sponsorship I’ve become more acquainted with the hard work that goes into Friends of NRA events, and I want to say thank you from Henry Repeating Arms. We appreciate it, we recognize it, and we choose to support the NRA to the best of our ability.”
O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., shares that same enthusiasm for preserving America’s shooting sports traditions. Having long supported the NRA with donations to national events, sponsorship of the National NRA Foundation Banquet and television shows, and more, Mossberg also sought to have more involvement with The NRA Foundation by becoming a National Corporate Sponsor of Friends of NRA in 2015 and sponsoring games at the 2015 NRA Foundation Banquets at GAOS and NRA Annual Meetings. It will continue that dedication as a 2016 Defender level sponsor of the program.

“For nearly 100 years, Mossberg has been a family-owned, American company with deep manufacturing roots,” explains CEO Iver Mossberg. “When it comes to the future of hunting and the shooting sports, Mossberg puts its trust in Friends of NRA and its dedicated volunteers. As I see it, our corporate sponsorship is one of the most important things we do to ensure that the firearm freedoms we enjoy today are passed down, intact, for future generations.”

Numzaan Safaris also joined the national level of NRA Foundation grassroots fundraising efforts in 2015, becoming a Defender level sponsor of the program by donating 50 hunts to be used over two years at local events across the country as well as at the National NRA Foundation Banquet at NRA Annual Meeting. Prior to this commitment, the South African outfitter and Booking Agents Ed and Linda Stevens had already supported Friends of NRA fundraising on the local level for several years, and that established relationship has helped to make their national sponsorship a fulfilling experience for all involved. “Having these donated Numzaan hunts at our events in 2015 has provided a great boost to our fundraising efforts,” says NRA Director of Volunteer Fundraising Sarah Engeset. As of November, Numzaan hunts had raised more than $320,000 at local Friends of NRA events since February 2015 when events began auctioning the trips.

“Working with Friends of NRA as a corporate sponsor in 2015 was a true privilege for us here at Numzaan Safaris, and we are proud to continue our corporate sponsorship in 2016 to help ensure that our hunting rights and gun rights are safe for future generations to enjoy,” shares Ed Stevens. “The future of these rights will depend on our young people, and supporting Friends of NRA is the best way to help provide opportunities for these young people to be introduced to the shooting sports nationwide due to the state and national grant programs. It is an honor to be a part of that process, and we at Numzaan hope to be an active sponsor for many years to come as our values and goals are very much aligned with Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation.”
“The future of these rights will depend on our young people, and supporting Friends of NRA is the best way to help provide opportunities for these young people to be introduced to the shooting sports." 
Another National Corporate Sponsor continuing its support of Friends of NRA for the second year in 2016 is SecureIt Tactical, Inc. In 2015 the company donated 300 Falcon FAST Box gun safes to The NRA Foundation and NRA’s Law Enforcement Division competitions. Those Falcon FAST Boxes were available at select Friends of NRA banquets in 2015, generating funds to support local and national shooting sports programs and bringing the SecureIt weapons storage platform to consumers throughout the U.S. For 2016, SecureIt has donated new products—RAPID 6 retrofit mondular gun safe conversion kits—to be used by Friends of NRA and NRA Law Enforcement.

"The work that The NRA [Foundation] does for this country and the support that they provide us at SecureIt is significantly appreciated,” Owner and President Tom Kubiniec says. “We will continuously support them as a corporate sponsor, as well as provide donations of the latest SecureIt products. Because The NRA Foundation regularly funds NRA programs that train and educate the growing population of firearm owners and shooting sports enthusiasts, it spreads the pertinent knowledge of firearm safety and responsibility that everyone should know. The attention that they bring to this necessary cause is genuinely the best way to prevent superfluous gun-related accidents while keeping the sport of shooting fun, positive, and one that brings people together.”

Friends of NRA also receives support from other programs within the NRA. NRA Outdoors Hunting & Fishing Destinations, which provides hunting and fishing guide services personalized to each client by using strong relationships developed with outfitters, is a Protector level sponsor of the Friends program for a second year.

Corporate Sponsors directly impact millions of firearm and outdoor enthusiasts through their relationships with Friends of NRA and their contributions of money, services and auction items to the program.

“Our sponsors’ continued support of the Friends of NRA program and The NRA Foundation is a testament to their dedicated advocacy for the future of shooting sports in this country,” says Director of Volunteer Fundraising Sarah Engeset. “They are helping fund firearms education and training opportunities to Second Amendment and shooting sports enthusiasts around the nation.”

Interested in becoming a Friends of NRA National Corporate Sponsor? Visit friendsofnra.org/corporate-sponsors.aspx or contact Director of Industry Partnerships John da Silva at [email protected] or 703-267-1356.