Bettinsoli USA Supports Youth Shooting Sports Through Multiple Programs Offered by MidwayUSA Foundation

Friday, November 15, 2024

Categories: News

Tags: #bettinsoliusa, #midwayusafoundation, #youthshootingsports, #youthshotguns

Leaders within the outdoor industry continue to step up and support MidwayUSA Foundation and the industry’s future. With a mission to help communities and organizations raise funds for their high school and college youth shooting teams, MidwayUSA Foundation relies on the support of retailers and suppliers in the outdoor space. Bettinsoli USA is a long-time sponsor that has assisted with a variety of programs to ensure youth shooting programs have quality items for their fundraising efforts.

Recently, Bettinsoli USA donated their Omega Steel Lite 20-gauge shotgun to a monthly auction to support MidwayUSA Foundation. Hosted on GunBroker.com, the auction winner’s bid was a donation to the endowment of their choice, which was also matched by MidwayUSA Foundation. Along with matching dollars and a special auction incentive, Bettinsoli’s Omega Steel Lite raised nearly $15,000 for youth shooting sports!

“Bettinsoli USA is excited about our continued partnership with the MidwayUSA Foundation to help sustain and grow the shooting sports industry. We believe in and support the MidwayUSA Foundation’s purpose of expanding and enhancing today’s youth’s leadership skills, confidence, and discipline through team shooting sports activities. We also believe Bettinsoli USA can provide high-quality shotguns that fit the needs of youth shooters,” said Nick Stratman of Bettinsoli USA. In addition to online auctions, Bettinsoli USA offers its quality shotguns to MidwayUSA Foundation’s Product Grant Program. This unique program allows youth shooting teams to apply to receive products, free of charge, raise funds in their community and donate generated funds to their endowment to be matched. Bettinsoli USA shotguns will be offered as product grants in January of 2025, where teams can request them, print tickets, and create a unique community fundraiser that grows their endowment and annual cash grant.

Thousands of youth shooting teams, of all disciplines, are funded through a MidwayUSA Foundation endowment. Each team can grow their respective endowment through donations and fundraisers. Additional businesses that are interested in supporting the future of the industry are encouraged to contact John Linquist, MidwayUSA Foundation Relationship Manager, by email JLinquist@MidwayUSAFoundation.org or phone 573-219-7688.

The MidwayUSA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity working to sustain and grow youth shooting sports by providing long-term funding to youth shooting teams. Every donation made is tax-deductible and allows the Foundation to assist in expanding and enhancing the leadership skills, confidence, and discipline of today’s youth through shooting sports activities. The Foundation supports all shooting disciplines. For more information about how the MidwayUSA Foundation is changing the future of youth shooting sports, please visit MidwayUSAFoundation.org or call 1-877-375-4570.

GAIM, Inc. Partners with MidwayUSA Foundation to Elevate Youth Shooting Sports Training

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Written by YAH Staff

Categories: News

Tags: #midwayusafoundation

MANASSAS, VA (October 29, 2024) – GAIM Immersive Technology, Inc. announces its partnership with the MidwayUSA Foundation, a leading supporter of youth shooting sports through grants and endowments. This collaboration reflects GAIM’s commitment to enhancing training opportunities for young athletes by providing innovative virtual reality shooting simulators. Through the use of GAIM’s advanced technology, young shooters will gain access to realistic, immersive training experiences that build skills, confidence and safety.

As part of this partnership, GAIM participated in the MidwayUSA Foundation’s National Youth Shooting Sports Conference in Missouri, where leadership from various shooting sports organizations had the chance to experience GAIM’s simulators. The initiative aims to expand youth access to high-quality, cutting-edge training tools that help athletes prepare for competition and personal development.

“GAIM is excited to work alongside the MidwayUSA Foundation to invest in the future of youth shooting sports,” said Phillip Jones, US Director of Sales & Marketing. “By offering our simulators, we hope to provide young athletes with safe, effective and engaging ways to hone their skills.”

Added John Linquist, Relationship Manager of the MidwayUSA Foundation. “Partnering with GAIM allows us to introduce new, innovative training tools to the youth we support. This aligns perfectly with our mission of empowering young athletes through shooting sports.”

GAIM offers a range of virtual reality shooting simulators designed for hunters, shooting sport enthusiasts/professionals, and law enforcement. These simulators immerse users in lifelike environments, allowing them to practice and improve skills like marksmanship, safety, and decision-making. Flagship simulators such as GAIM Hunting, GAIM Clay Shooting and GAIM Handgun, all available in the GAIM Complete bundle, offer tailored experiences—whether preparing for the hunting season or sharpening tactical responses for law enforcement teams.

GAIM’s realistic scenarios, included with GAIM Complete, blend real-world training with cutting-edge virtual technology, helping users become more effective, engaged, and accurate in the field or on the range. Individual Sport Shooting and Hunting scenarios are also available separately, allowing shooters to expand their training at their own pace.

To learn more about GAIM Simulators, visit gaim.com.

Scholastic 3-D Archery Hosts National Archery Youth Hunt

Saturday, November 09, 2024

Written by YAH Staff

Categories: News

Tags: #scholastic3darchery, #youtharchery, #youthhunting

Williamsburg, KY – Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) recently held a memorable and educational deer hunt for two youth archers at Victoria Crossroads (a private hunting lodge) in Western Kentucky. This unique event provided the young archers with the opportunity of a lifetime to hunt on 7,000 acres of privately owned land, guided by seasoned hunters. The hunt not only fostered a deeper understanding of conservation among the youth but also provided a platform for them to showcase their knowledge and passion for the outdoors.

In preparation for this event, S3DA members were invited to submit a conservation essay for a chance to win a spot in the National Archery Youth Hunt. Participants chose from a list of prompts which asked archers about their hunting knowledge and experience, and also to detail their knowledge of conservation. This was a very competitive experience and a great number of youth archers applied.

The two archers chosen were Isabella Nelson from West Michigan Archery Center S3DA in Michigan and Jeffrey Burton from Little Belt Archers in Montana.

Isabella Nelson shared her excitement, saying, “I wanted to apply for this hunt because I have been wanting to find a place to hunt this year but haven’t found one. I am very passionate about conservation, so this was a perfect opportunity! The S3DA staff was very welcoming, and the overall experience was amazing. I would definitely do this again. These were memories that will last a lifetime.”

Jeffrey said, “I chose to write an essay for this hunt because my dream is to hunt in every state in America. I was extremely excited when I found out that I had been selected. The hunt was much different than I am typically used to because we don’t have trees like Kentucky. Everyone was super nice and very helpful. Hopefully, I get the opportunity to come back so I can harvest a Kentucky deer.”

Patty Reel, S3DA National Conservation Coordinator, expressed her enthusiasm for the hunt, stating, “Spending the weekend at Victoria Crossroads is an experience in itself. It is such an amazing piece of property that is set up for conservation and healthy habitats for all the wildlife on the farm. We were excited for the kids to arrive to start their hunts. Looking at the map of the property and listening to Fred Pape tell which stands were the best to hunt from was a learning experience for them both. I had the opportunity to teach Jeffrey and Isabella about the American folklore about telling the weather with persimmon seeds. They were both amazed, having never heard of it before. This was an incredible opportunity for these young archers to learn about conservation and experience the thrill of hunting in a safe and educational environment. Though neither successfully harvested a deer during this hunt, they did have ample opportunity to see some magnificent whitetails, just none in bow range. S3DA is the perfect platform to support the next generation of conservationists and hunters.”

For more information about Scholastic 3-D Archery and upcoming events, please visit the Scholastic 3-D Archery Facebook page. Be sure to like and follow us for the most up-to-date news!

About Scholastic 3-D Archery

Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) is a unique, family-oriented youth archery program which has grown exponentially across the United States as a next-step initiative to follow introductory archery programs. The mission of the Scholastic

3-D Archery program is to foster, educate and guide youth in the areas of 3D, indoor target, and outdoor target archery as well as safe, ethical bowhunting practices. The goal of the S3DA program is to provide archery and bowhunting opportunities to youth in after-school settings, as well as with archery-affiliated clubs and businesses in the community. S3DA youth participate in 3D and target archery using compound and traditional archery equipment. Youth members can participate at regional, state and national archery events and earn college scholarships from colleges and universities across the United States. S3DA addresses the need for a program to bridge beginning target archery experience and more advanced activities such as 3D shooting and bowhunting. The program currently operates across the United States with hundreds of certified coaches serving thousands of youth archers.

Contact the Scholastic 3-D Archery National Office at:

www.s3da.net or 410 Sycamore Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769, Ph: 606.524.3685

Media contact Kayla Bolton at kaylas3da@gmail.com, Ph: 423.494.2204

MidwayUSA Foundation Prepares for Giving Tuesday 2024

Wednesday, November 06, 2024

Written by YAH Staff

Categories: Briefs, News

Tags: #midwayusafoundation #skguns #youthshooting, #youthclaysshooting, #youthhunting

November 5, 2024

Categories: Blog, Fundraising, Matching, Other

Save the Date: December 3 | Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday, the foundation’s most significant fundraising day of the year, is right around the corner, and we are excited to raise money for your youth shooting teams and organizations! After an unbelievable Giving Tuesday in 2023, raising over $513,000, they set a goal to do it again in 2024. However, they need your help to raise that kind of money! To reach their goal, they encourage you to ask your community of supporters to donate through our website on December 3. Every dollar will benefit the youth shooting sports program that the donor chooses. MidwayUSA Foundation is proud to ensure that 100% of every donation benefits the endowment of their choice because we keep nothing for operations. Plus, we will match EVERY DONATION! In addition to matching every donation, theyt also award youth shooting teams that receive the most donation dollars and draw thirty (30) participating teams, at random, to win $1,000 each.

The team incentive will be structured to reward the top 5 teams.
1st Place: $15,000
2nd Place: $12,500
3rd Place: $10,000
4th Place: $7,500
5th Place: $5,000

Throughout Giving Tuesday, the MidwayUSA Foundation updates you on our progress toward their goal on their website and social media. Please follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Share their updates on your social media, too! They also recommend sharing your own stories and team information on your social media with a direct link to your MidwayUSA Foundation endowment page. To assist you in talking with your volunteers, parents, donors, and potential donors, they have created material for you to use in your communications. Visit our Giving Tuesday Toolkit page for logos, email and press release templates, and more tips.

SK GUNS GIVEAWAY

Thanks to SK Guns, the MidwayUSA Foundation also has an exciting incentive for our donors. This SK Guns Sweepstakes is exclusive to our Giving Tuesday donors! For every $1,000 donation, a donor will receive an entry to win the exclusive SK Guns Gold Series Early Italian Renaissance Collection. Only 25 complete Gold Series sets have been produced, featuring pistols with consecutive serial numbers and matching edition numbers. This remarkable set also includes a limited edition engraved knife, etched in 24k gold and numbered to match the set. The estimated value of this collection is over $15,000! A random winner will be announced by December 13th.

Donating on Giving Tuesday is easy. Head to MidwayUSAFoundation.org/donate and choose if you’d like to contribute to a youth shooting team or organization. From there, you’ll search for the program you’d like to support and make your tax-deductible donation right through our safe and secure website. We will send you a gift receipt, and your dollars will be matched in the coming weeks. Growing an endowment means growing that youth shooting program’s annual cash grant, which provides funds to cover the team’s critical expenses to practice and compete.

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Nation’s Top College Athletes To Participate in 2024 National Championship

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Written by YAH Staff

Categories: News

Tags: #scheels, #usacollegeclaytargetleague

Bunker Hill, IL – Athletes & teams representing 18 colleges and universities from across the nation are scheduled to participate at the 2024 USA College Clay Target League National Championship this week!

The USACCTL National Championship will be held at the Brittany Shooting Park outside of Bunker Hill, Illinois November 1st-3rd. The Championship features 214 college athletes participating in two days of competition to award the top athletes and teams in the country.

The National Championship is proudly presented by SCHEELS. Additional sponsors include: the Bass Pro/Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Walker’s, Mark Zauhar, Friends of NRA, Sportsman’s Guide, GUNS.COM, Spandau Arms, and Winchester.

Make sure to follow the USACCTL Facebook page for daily photos and videos! https://www.facebook.com/USACollegeClayTarget

Friday, November 1st: Team Check-In & Practice

Saturday, November 2nd: Competition Day 1 – All athletes will shoot 100 targets. An “Annie Oakley” contest will take place for coaches and athletes after the day’s competition concludes.

Sunday, November 3rd: Competition Day 2 – All athletes will shoot 100 targets. The title of National Champion will be based on the cumulative totals for the two days of competition.

The following schools have registered to compete in the 2024 College National Championship:

Illinois College (IL)

Lake Land College (IL)

University of Illinois (IL)

McPherson College (KS)

Maine Maritime Academy (ME)

Ferris State University (MI)

Mid Michigan College (MI)

Montcalm Community College (MI)

Western Michigan University (MI)

Bethany Lutheran College (MN)

Lake Superior College (MN)

University of Minnesota Crookston (MN)

Lindenwood University (MO)

Williston State College (ND)

Alfred State College (NY)

Paul Smith’s College (NY)

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (WI)

Western Technical College (WI)

About the USA Clay Target League

With nearly 52,000 participating athletes in the 2023-24 school year, the non-profit USA Clay Target League is America’s largest clay target shooting organization. The League offers trap, skeet, sporting clays, and 5-stand leagues to secondary and postsecondary schools across the country.

A record-breaking 989 student athletes representing 77 college and university teams across the country participated in USA Clay Target League programs this fall.

The League is the only 100% school-approved clay target shooting sport program in America. Every team must have school approval to participate. Most participating schools have lettering programs as well as yearbook inclusion for the teams. In addition, tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships are provided to qualifying seniors by the League and post-secondary institutions each year.

The League’s co-ed and adaptive nature are key attractions to schools nationwide: it’s fully Title IX compliant with both male and female athletes competing on the same team, and it’s an ‘adaptive’ sport, which allows students with physical disabilities to take part.

The League’s priorities are safety, fun, and marksmanship – in that order.

The League is the safest sport in school, with not one reported injury since the inception of the League in 2001. Each athlete must complete firearm safety certification before participation.

Visit https://college.usaclaytarget.com for more information.

World Archery Youth Championships Winnipeg 2025

Sunday, October 20, 2024

Written by YAH Staff

Categories: News

Tags: #archery, #worldarcherychampionship

The 2025 World Archery Youth Championships will take place in Winnipeg, Canada from August 17–24, 2025. The event will feature up to 600 athletes competing in a 10-day archery competition.

The 2024 Canada Cup, which will take place from June 7–9, is a training opportunity for the 2025 World Archery Youth Championships. Volunteers are needed for the Canada Cup, and can help with setup, field crew positions, administration, and athlete services. To volunteer, email info@archerymanitoba and register your interest by May 13, 2024.

Bid on a Ruger .44 Magnum Redhawk Revolver! (6 of 17)

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Written by YAH Staff

Categories: News

Tags: #.44magnumpistols, #midwayusafoundation, #rugerguns, #rugerredhawkpistol

Ruger is hosting weekly online auctions to support MidwayUSA Foundation’s mission. Every Wednesday until December 25th, there will be a rare and unique Ruger Firearm posted on Gunbroker.com and available to bid on, seventeen auctions total! 100% of net proceeds from these auctions will support MidwayUSA Foundation’s mission. See all active Ruger auctions on Ruger.com/links/auction. With the support of industry leaders like Ruger, we can change the future of youth shooting sports!

The Ruger Redhawk revolvers were first introduced in 1979. This model, KRH-44, is no longer in production. Ruger’s records reflect this revolver was roll marked January 28, 2000. This revolver has never been sold or fired beyond normal test firing during manufacture. The Redhawk double-action revolver has a 6-round capacity cylinder and is satin-polished stainless steel with a 7.5-inch barrel. It has wood grip panels with silver-colored Ruger “SR” Eagle logo medallions inlaid in the panels. Other features include: a steel rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation with a white outline square notch blade; a pinned ramp front sight base with a red plastic insert in the front sight; and integral mounts machined directly on the stainless-steel barrel rib. The revolver will be shipped in the brown hinged cardboard box it had been stored in along with an appropriate instruction manual and locking device. The revolver is being sold “as is.” The purchaser assumes all liability for its safe and proper ownership, storage, use, and resale. It is a part of the Ruger factory collection in Southport, Connecticut and a Certificate of Authenticity will be mailed to the winner of the auction. The acquisition, ownership, possession and use of firearms are heavily regulated. Some models may not be legally available in your state or locale. Whatever your purpose for lawfully acquiring a firearm – know the law, get trained and shoot safely.

The post Ruger Auction (6 of 17): .44 Magnum Redhawk Revolver appeared first on MidwayUSA Foundation.

Pennsylvania Unveils New Sportsman’s License Plate That Benefits Youth Hunting and Fishing

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Written by YAH Staff

Categories: News

Tags: #congressionalsportsmensfoundation, #pennsylvaniafishing, #pennsylvaniahunting, #youthfishing, #youthhunting

Why It Matters: On Tuesday, October 1^st, the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC), along with the Chairs of the House and Senate Game & Fish Committees (Sen. Greg Rothman; Co-Chair for the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and Caucus member, Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik. n addition to the bill sponsor, Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr., unveiled the new “PA Sportsman” license plate which provides additional funding to the Youth Hunting and Fishing Accounts which assists in the Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation (R3) of youth sportsmen and women.

Highlights:

The “PA Sportsman” plate was unveiled at the Pennsylvania State Capitol during a press conference at National Hunting and Fishing Day event hosted by the PGC and the PFBC.
The specialty license plate sports artwork featuring a fishing scene on a lake, a white-tailed deer, and a ruffed grouse.
The plate will cost $40 plus the registration fee, of which $14 will be deposited into a Youth Hunting and Fishing Account which will be allocated evenly to the PGC and the PFBC to be used for the promotion of hunting and fishing activities for youth.

In the United States, participation in sporting traditions has been generally declining since the 1980’s. Sportsmen and women generate billions of dollars annually for the national and local economies and support hundreds of thousands of jobs while hunting license sales provide funding for wildlife conservation and habitat restoration through the American System of Conservation Funding. In response to the declining number of sportsmen and women, state fish and wildlife agencies, conservation organizations, shooting sports organizations, and hunting/fishing/shooting sports industry have invested heavily in recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) initiatives. With the introduction of the “PA Sportsman” license plate, Pennsylvanian’s can proudly show other motorists that they are a sportsman or woman while providing some additional funding for youth hunting and fishing programs within the state.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) applauds the legislature and Governor Josh Shapiro for passing and enacting this legislation to bring attention to provide critical funding for youth hunting and fishing programs. If you are a resident of the Keystone State, and wish to purchase the “PA Sportsman” specialty license plate, please visit the PennDOT website, choose Special Fund, and select the “PA Sportsman” option.

Shimano to award up to $30,000 in college scholarships

Monday, October 07, 2024

Written by YAH Staff

Categories: Briefs, News

Tags: #shimano, #shimanovarsityprogram, #youthfishing

Students majoring in biology, fisheries, wildlife, or natural resource fields may qualify

Expanding the qualifications to include both graduating high school seniors and those already enrolled in undergrad and graduate programs, Shimano North American Fishing, Inc. will now award up to $30,000 in scholarships as part of its ‘Shimano Varsity’ program. The expansion of the program was officially announced to state DNR professionals and bass club leaders by Shimano Youth Fishing Director Frank Hyla at the biannual B.A.S.S. Conservation Summit held in conjunction with the recent Bassmaster Classic.

“Being one of the cornerstones of our Varsity program, the scholarships provide needed financial assistance to future leaders in conservation, fisheries and wildlife sciences and management,” said Hyla, “where we hope those talents help with work done by state, regional, provincial and national natural resource agencies.”

Along with the scholarships, Shimano’s Varsity Program helps younger anglers learn about fishing tackle and techniques, provides industry networking opportunities at Shimano ‘Career Seminar’ events, and stresses the role anglers have in fishing conservation and advocacy. “Since our program began in early 2017, those anglers participating in our program have been active with the Keep America Fishing Pitch It program keeping used plastic baits out of our lakes and rivers,” said Hyla, “and have picked up thousands of pounds of trash at boat ramps and other areas through our ‘Leave It Better’ projects.”

For their studies beginning in fall 2018, Shimano will award up to fifteen (15) $2,000 scholarships to U.S. and Canadian high school seniors, college undergraduate and graduate students who are members of B.A.S.S., and majoring in biology, fisheries, wildlife or a natural resource related field. A specially selected panel, including Shimano’s Phil Morlock, B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Gene Gilliland, and Chris Horton with the Congressional Sportsman’s Foundation, will determine the scholarship winners. Application forms – with a May 31 deadline – are available on the Shimano website at Shimano Varsity Program Scholarship.

Successful applicants will be notified by July 1. The award is made directly to the student winner and can be used as needed for tuition, textbooks or living expenses.

For more information about on the ‘Shimano Varsity’ program, visit: http://varsity.shimano.com.

MidwayUSA Foundation Online Ruger Rifle Auction Raises Money for Youth Shooting Sports

Saturday, October 05, 2024

Written by YAH Staff

Categories: News

Tags: #6.5grendel, #midwayusafoundation, #rugeramericanrifle, #rugerrifles

This next auction item is a Ruger American Rifle Generation II Ranch in 6.5 Grendel. Ruger’s records reflect this rifle was roll marked February 8, 2024. The rifle is a current production item, was never sold, and has never been fired beyond normal testing during manufacture. This rifle was one of Ruger’s Sales & Marketing photography samples.

This Ruger American Rifle Generation II Ranch is an update to the American-made rifle that has been the benchmark for accuracy, durability, and performance in bolt-action rifles for over a decade. The most significant improvements to the Generation II rifle are the three-position tang safety and a more rigid and ergonomic stock. Incorporated into the renowned Ruger Marksman Adjustable Trigger, the new three-position safety maintains an intuitive “push forward to fire” operation while delivering the crisp, clean break today’s consumers expect.

Redesigned for more rigidity, the stock also accommodates a removable comb riser and length of pull spacer to improve sight alignment and adjust for different statures. The Ranch model features a Cobalt Cerakote finish and is fitted to a Flat Dark Earth stock with black splatter texture. Featuring a 16-inch barrel, this rifle is light and compact. Removing the installed LOP spacer (common to all Gen II rifle stocks), transforms the rifle to an ultra-short 12″ LOP for smaller shooters right out of the box. CNC machined from stainless steel, the full diameter three-lug bolt reliably feeds from a variety of magazines and offers a short, 70 degree bolt throw, which gives ample scope clearance. The bolt handle is threaded for easy customization and fitted with an anodized round knob. The bolt and receiver have been reengineered for smooth operation.

A one-piece Picatinny scope base is installed. The AR-style magazine holds 10 rounds. The rifle will ship in its original rifle box along with one magazine, original instruction manual and marketing materials, and locking device. The rifle is being sold “as is.” The purchaser assumes all liability for its safe and proper ownership, storage, use, and resale. It is a part of the Ruger factory collection in Southport, Connecticut and a Certificate of Authenticity will be mailed to the winner of the auction. The acquisition, ownership, possession and use of firearms are heavily regulated. Some models may not be legally available in your state or locale. Whatever your purpose for lawfully acquiring a firearm – know the law, get trained and shoot safely. Details on the MidwayUSA Foundation web site at https://bit.ly/4gUuLC1