Friends of NRA Announces its 2017 Volunteers of the Year

It takes more than 13,000 volunteers from across the country to tackle 1,100 annual Friends of NRA events. Their grassroots fundraising efforts are now closing in on almost one billion dollars for The NRA Foundation, which supports firearms education and training at the local, state and national levels—including more than 180 NRA programs.

“Our volunteers are the backbone of Friends of NRA,” explains Director of Volunteer Fundraising Sarah Engeset. “They are a fundraising force with tireless energy, determination and passion to move our mission forward.”

2017 came in like a lamb, but left like a lion just shy of beating the program’s all-time record of $32.6 million. The silver anniversary 25th year came in at $30.5 million. Since 1992, Friends of NRA has held close to 21,000 events, reached four million attendees and raised more than $815 million, contributing to 45,000 NRA Foundation grants.

“We are one team, one voice, with one vision—and that’s the future of freedom,” remarks Central Region Director Chad Franklin. “Our volunteers know and feel that. It’s why they do what they do day in and day out, year after year. We are incredibly blessed to have them.”

NRA field representatives evaluate volunteers on a number of criteria including event tickets sold, years of service, leadership, and overall impact on the program. Each field rep selects one volunteer of the year for their area, and then regional directors determine their Regional Volunteer of the Year from those nominations. The six 2017 Regional Volunteers of the Year have more than 60 years of combined volunteering experience, during which they’ve raised a quarter of a million dollars for The NRA Foundation.

The 2017 Committee of the Year: Falls of the Ohio Friends of NRA in Borden, Ind.

The program also recognizes an exceptional Friends of NRA committee each year. Falls of the Ohio Friends of NRA in Indiana topped the charts in 2017 with nearly $240,000 raised, earning the title of Outstanding Committee of the Year for the second year in a row.

Award recipients receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits. This year they will join in the 147^th Annual Meetings in Dallas, Texas, on May 4-6. Special recognition will be given to each Region Volunteer of the Year and the Committee of the Year during the National NRA Foundation Banquet on Thursday, May 3.

The Volunteer of the Year and Committee of the Year program is sponsored by Ripcord. CLICK HERE for more information about volunteering with Friends of NRA! 

Help secure American freedoms and shooting sports traditions for generations to come! To join in the fundraising efforts near you, contact your local Field Rep or attend a local Friends of NRA event.