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Tag: Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation

DSC Foundation announces their support for the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation again for 2019

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

Dallas, Texas based DSC Foundation announced earlier this month their continued support for the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation. Richard Cheatham, President of the DSC Foundation stated; “We are looking forward to our continued support of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation. Their mission to engage America’s youth in responsible, safe, and competitive shooting sports and promote awareness of issues surrounding conservation aligns perfectly with the DSC Foundation mission.” The DSC Foundation mission is to insure the conservation of wildlife through public engagement, education, and advocacy for well-regulated hunting and sustainable use. “We are thrilled to have the DSC Foundation back with us again next year” said Ben Berka, President and Executive Director for the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation. “Shooting sports directly supports conservation and many of our development efforts with our youth athletes as well as communications that include their families have conservation as an ongoing topic of discussion.” The DSC Foundation will be featured at the SSSF 2019 National Championships at the Cardinal Center in Marengo, Ohio. In addition, DSC will have an opportunity to address conservation issues at the SSSF Conservation Partners Day that takes place on July 19, 2019 during the National Championships. About the DSC Foundation The sole mission of the DSC Foundation is to serve the mission and vision of the Dallas Safari Club and to:
  1. To promote, establish, and conduct science-based research supporting sustainable use wildlife conservation and the role of well-regulated hunting:
  2. To create and maintain a library of primary and secondary research relating to wildlife conservation made available to the public:
  3. To develop educational programs that promote the concept and benefits of sustainable use wildlife conservation and well-regulated hunting globally; and,
  4. To provide grants otherwise partner with other charitable, educational, and governmental organizations pursuing the same or similar goals as the Dallas Safari Club

Large Prize Package Up For Grabs at Nationals Kids & Clays Event

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SCTP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

(Marengo, OH) - Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) is partnering with the Kids and Clays Foundation to hold a registered two-day sporting clay charity event at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio. The event will be held Friday July 20 and Saturday July 21 during SSSF’s Scholastic Clay Target Program National Championships.  The event is open to the public, parents and coaches of athletes attending the SCTP and the athletes themselves. All registrants for the event will be entered in a drawing for a large prize package of firearms, outdoor and shooting gear worth more than $14,000! Prizes, donated by many great sponsors, are listed below. Click here to sign up for this event today! The event is open to the public and those participating or attending the SCTP National Championships. The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is the nation’s leader in youth development shooting sports programs. The Kids and Clays Foundation supports a series of shooting events across the country with all proceeds benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities. All proceeds from this special two-day event will help each organization fulfill their mission. “We’re not only happy to partner with Kids & Clays on this event but are thrilled to be able to offer such a large prize package just for participating in the event,” said Tom Wondrash, SCTP National Program Director. “This event will make for a great ending to what is shaping up as record-setting National Championships at Cardinal.” Besides the great prizes, top finishers in this registered event will be recognized with trophies. A portion of the proceeds, through the Kids & Clays Foundation, benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities, who provide housing and other help to tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the country each year. “We are blessed to be associated with such a quality organization as the SCTP,” said Doug Jeanneret, Kids & Clays Foundation executive director. “We certainly invite all who have an interest in shooting and also in helping youth to attend this marquis event.” Proceeds will also benefit the SCTP’s scholarship program providing assistance to graduating high school seniors continuing their education in college. Scholarship applications are available on the SSSF’s website. The Prize Package for participants of the sporting clay event includes: Beretta o  A300 Outlander 12 Ga Winchester o  SX3 Compact Ruger o  Vaquero SKB o  90TSS O/U Mossberg o  International 20 Ga Savage o  320 12 Ga CZ o  712 12 Ga TriStar o  O/U Shotgun Smith & Wesson o  Bodyguard .380 ALPS o  Ultimate Recliner o  ALPS Rocking Chair Browning o  ULU Hatchet o  Second Chance Zebra Knife o  Stick It Throwing Knife o  Wihongi Tomahawk o   Track USB Rechargeable Light o   Two Piece Shooting Rest o   Speed Load Knife o   Lona Shell Box Carrier o   Lona Deluxe Pouch o   Crazy Horse Leather Mag Case o  Ranger Black Hat o   Backpack o   Range Pro bag o  Hidalgo Soft Gun Case Briley o  $300 gift cards Camp Chef o  Big Gas Grill X2 Champion o  Workhorse Trap Machine o  Passive Slim Ear Muffs o  Ear Muffs with Glasses o  Pink Youth Glasses Girls With Guns o  MOO Gun Bag o  MTS Bullet Dangle Earrings o   Duck Stamp Hat o   Black Koozie o   $25 Gift Card Hodgdon Powder Co. o  8 lb. gift card OTIS o  Elite Cleaning Kit o  12 Ga Rip Cord o  20 GA Rip Cord o  Bio Mix Starter Pack o  Tandem Wipes 085 Thermacell o  Scout Camp Lantern o  MRP450 Repeller o   Mosquito Protection (Slate) Winchester o  Bar HT Directors Chair o  Red Captains Chair o  AA Shell Holder o  AA Shell Bag o  AA Mailbox o  Red Am. Legend Mug o  AA Thermometer For more details on the special two-day sporting clay event or for more information on the SSSF’s Scholastic Clay Target Program visit www.sssfonline.org or contact Amanda Wondrash at awondrash@sssfonline.com or Tom Wondrash at twondrash@sssfonline.com. For more information about the Kids & Clays Foundation visit www.kidsandclays.com or contact Doug Jeanneret (Doug@kidsandclays.com) or Zac Lemmon (Zac@kidsandclays.com) or call 219-874-2100. For more information on the Cardinal Shooting Center, visit www.thecardinalcenter.com.

Leach Promoted to National Director

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is happy to announce Rick Leach is being promoted to the role of national director for the Scholastic Action Shooting Program. Ben Berka, SSSF president and executive director, said, “Rick brings a great deal of direct program knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to the role of national director. Like many employees at SSSF, he's a guy who started out as a parent volunteer and has made his way in our organization through his proven dedication to our programs, hard work and his desire to help people. I'm pleased to have Rick at the helm of the SASP and a part of our senior leadership team at the SSSF.” The new SASP national director, Leach, is no stranger to the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and SASP as he has been involved as a volunteer and coach with the SCTP since 2011 before starting a SASP program in 2012.  Leach has previously served as the SASP volunteer state advisor in Wisconsin and played key role in growing Wisconsin into one of the largest SASP member-states in the country. Leach has served as SASP Director of Development since November, 2015, interim SASP national director since May of 2017 and is retiring from a 31-year law enforcement career, most recently as a sergeant with the Cedarburg (WI) Police Department. “I am truly honored for this opportunity to take on this leadership role in the SSSF  and continue growing the Scholastic Action Shooting Program,” Leach said. “Through the SASP our volunteer state advisors, coaches, parents and sponsors are making a positive difference for youth across America.  I look forward to working with all of these passionate program stakeholders to grow the SASP.” Leach begins his new role effective January 1st, 2018.

Governor Welcomes SPP to Its First Indiana State Championship

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

Governor Michael R. Pence of Indiana welcomed the Scholastic Pistol Program to its first Indiana State Championship with a proclamation, declaring shooting sports as “enriching the lives of young Hoosiers by instilling discipline and responsibility while also promoting liberty.” Eight squads participated in the state’s inaugural SPP State Championship on June 15. Hoosier Daddy’s SPP team hosted the match at the Hoosier Hills Rifle and Pistol Club in Columbus, IN. A total of $9,800 in endowment funds were awarded to the participating teams. In the Junior Rimfire Division, the Bluegrass Sportsman League squad took 1st place honors, with Hoosier Daddy’s Squad 2 taking 2nd and Smokin’ Dragons Squad 1 coming in 3rd. Smokin’ Dragons Squad 2 took Gold in the Junior Centerfire Division with Hoosier Daddy’s Squad 1 taking Silver. In the Senior Centerfire Division, the Target Busters won the Gold medal, and Hoosier Daddy’s Squad 3 took 1st in Senior Rimfire. “The state of Indiana recognizes the sport of shooting for enriching the lives of young Hoosiers by instilling discipline and responsibility while also promoting liberty,” the governor stated. “Indiana is bettered by the talents of its young people, and the state is proud to recognize the dedication of each and every participant in attendance this weekend.” His statement continued, “I would like to thank the members of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, MidwayUSA Foundation, and the Indiana Youth Shooting Sports Foundation for hosting this event and taking time to promote the sport of shooting to young people. Thank you to the many instructors, families, and volunteers who provide training and encouragement to the participants.” “We are really excited that SPP is growing in Indiana,” said Jack Parker, Hoosier Daddy’s SPP assistant coach. “As a professional educator, I see the huge value of programs such as SPP as it requires athletes to not only be good citizens and work hard to succeed, but it also teaches safety and respect at a level few other programs can match.” Serving as Match Directors were Jack Parker and Nick Mason, and they were assisted by Safety Officers Mike Miller and Tom Brummett. On hand to assist were SPP National Director Scott Moore, SPP Program Manager Tammy Mowry, and GLOCK SPP liaison and SSSF Board member Ed Fitzgerald. “Jack Parker, Nick Mason, and the entire coaching staff of Hoosier Daddy’s have made this inaugural Indiana State Championship a great success,” said Mowry. “We look forward to continued success here in the Hoosier State!”

SCTP’s National Team Championships Open Registration with Record Numbers

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in Events, SCTP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

Registration is now open for next month’s SCTP National Team Championships, and if the first day of registration is any indication, it is sure to be a record-shattering event. During the first 24 hours that teams could register for the National Championships, more than 627 student athletes were signed up for SCTP events, representing 40 teams from 15 states. Almost 1000 event registrations were completed during the first day. The event will be held July 14-19 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, IL. In addition, SCTP will host shooters at our National Championships for international events on July 25-29 in Colorado Springs, CO. As in previous years, SCTP teams will compete in Skeet, Trap, and Sporting Clays during the weeklong event. For this year’s Nationals, teams can also compete in Doubles Trap, Handicap Trap, and Skeet Doubles events. A new College Open category will allow college students to compete at the National Championships with their former high school teams. Sharing the spotlight with the Scholastic Clay Target Program during Nationals will be the Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP), concurrently holding its second Junior/Senior National Championships. The two programs will award $713,000 in endowment funds to competing teams at our national events, representing $450,000 to SCTP teams at the Sparta tournament; $156,000 at SCTP’s National Championships for international events; and $107,000 to SPP teams at Nationals. Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation will donate the endowment funds to team accounts at the MidwayUSA Foundation, Inc. In addition to a week of shooting competition, other activities are planned to benefit our student athletes, including College Recruiting Day to provide recruiting opportunities to colleges with shooting teams, and Youth Conservation Day, when athletes will learn about various conservation organizations and opportunities for involvement. “We’re off to a tremendous start with registrations for our National Championships, and we’re expecting another record year, following a record 2000-plus shooters in 2013,” said Tom Wondrash, SCTP National Director. “The SCTP staff and our dedicated sponsors work on this event year-round to ensure it is the nation’s premier youth shooting competition. With its wide range of shooting events and activities, abundant endowment funds the teams can earn, and opportunities for teams to compete against the nation’s best, we’re confident this is an event without equal.” SCTP head coaches can log in to their accounts at www.sssfonline.org to register.

SSSF Announces Staff and Operational Changes

Written by Phil Autrey on . Posted in SCTP Blog, SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

ImageGenScholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) announces several executive and operational changes to accommodate our continued growth and position the Foundation for planned future expansion. The Board of Directors has created a new position, Director of Foundation Development, which will be filled by our current Executive Director and President, Dan Hathaway, leveraging his extensive background in fundraising and relationship management. “While the Executive Director has previously shouldered the dual role of operations and development, we are at the right point in our organizational evolution that a Director of Foundation Development is now warranted,” said Louise K. Terry, Chairperson of the SSSF Board of Directors. “Dan’s prior experience in development and his past two years with SSSF make him uniquely qualified for this position.” Hathaway will assume responsibility for developing and managing new funding sources and relationships, building on the support of current sponsors and patrons. “We are fortunate to have dedicated benefactors for whom we are very grateful, especially Larry and Brenda Potterfield, as well as the MidwayUSA Foundation, who continue to support our efforts generously,” said Terry. Assuming the role of President and Executive Director will be Ben Berka, currently a member of the SSSF Board of Directors and the Shooting Sports Coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Berka created the Iowa DNR Shooting Sports Program from the ground up and has led the SCTP program there to become the largest participating state in the country. In 2013, Berka launched the Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) in Iowa through the DNR. “Ben Berka has been SSSF’s most successful State coordinator, and his results are unmatched by any other individual or state organization,” said Terry. “SCTP and SPP programs throughout the country will benefit from his experience, and we’re expecting him to direct a dynamic and exciting path forward for our programs.” “I’m honored to join the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation in this new role,” Berka commented. “The staff members and volunteers involved in the Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Pistol Program are some of the most passionate, dedicated individuals on the planet. As part of the SSSF team, along with Program Directors Tom Wondrash (SCTP) and Scott Moore (SPP), I look forward to guiding the continued growth of youth shooting sports across the nation.” Hathaway and Berka will assume their new positions effective March 31, 2014. In conjunction with the upcoming executive staff changes, SSSF will also relocate home-office administration and financial operations from the current Maumee, Ohio office to the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas. “As the Headquarters of the National Skeet Shooting Association and National Sporting Clays Association, the National Shooting Complex is a natural choice to house the SSSF’s operations,” said Terry. “In addition to the convenience of San Antonio as a central, easily-accessible location for our staff and volunteers from around the country, we will benefit from the proximity to our partners, the NSSA and NSCA. Since we are the largest feeder program for youth shooters to NSSA-NSCA, we envision this as a win-win relationship.” As NSSA President Bob De Francesco pointed out, this move is expected to be a great benefit to both organizations. The SCTP program has helped NSSA-NSCA grow by introducing the shooting sports to many young shooters and their families. The synergies between these organizations make us perfect partners and neighbors. Having SSSF operations in the same complex as NSSA-NSCA will facilitate continued cooperation in the future. "Rest assured, however, this does not mean that the National Championships will be moved to San Antonio," said Terry. "In order to hold our event with both shotgun and pistol competitions, we plan to continue to utilize the WSRC facility in Sparta, IL, for our Nationals." We trust that you share in our excitement with these announcements, and we look forward to continuing to work with our thousands of student athletes and adult volunteers to create even more opportunities for you and your teams in the coming months.