r By Brian Beard
In 2017, the Utah Scholastic Clay Target Program (Utah SCTP) raised $444,162.02 for youth shotgun shooting sports throughout the state. These funds are held in endowment accounts at the MidwayUSA Foundation, a public charity working to helps communities and organizations fund their youth shooting teams. Each shooting team has their own earmarked endowment. The current combined endowment account balances for Utah SCTP teams is $1,003,639.07. Those funds originated from team fundraisers, the Matching Program offered by the MidwayUSA Foundation, and quarterly earnings, also contributed through the MidwayUSA Foundation.
A large portion of the funds generated in 2017 were from an $80,000 donation from Larry and Brenda Potterfield to Utah SCTP to assist in team fundraising efforts. Utah SCTP matched team fundraising dollars that each team donated to their earmarked MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment. This program encouraged youth shotgun shooting teams to be engaged in fundraising and securing the future of youth shooting sports.
“It is crucial for shooting teams in our organization to be engaged in self-preservation and fundraising for them to remain successful. Providing this match was one way we as an organization could add some incentive to engage in fundraising,” Brian Beard, President, Utah Scholastic Clay Target Program.
Once each year, teams with a MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment are eligible to request a cash grant of 5% of their endowment balance to use for expenses like ammunition, travel, targets, uniforms, entry fees, operating expenses and more! Additionally, MidwayUSA Foundation makes generous non-cash grants available to Utah SCTP and teams each year. In 2017 Utah SCTP and teams were awarded:r• 9 Firearmsr• 140 Browning Knife Setsr• 3 Pairs Pilla Shooting Glassesr• 3 Pairs Leupold Binocularsr• These items also assisted in fundraising efforts.
The Utah Scholastic Clay Target Program (Utah SCTP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to educating youth in Utah about wildlife conservation and firearm safety and promoting youth shooting sports on a competitive and scholastic level throughout the State of Utah. Their purpose is to provide training and guidance to the youth shooting programs of Utah, with the goal of developing self-confidence, self-esteem, self-reliance, respect, personal discipline, responsibility, citizenship, teamwork, and sportsmanship through regular practice and competition at local, state, and national events. For more information, contact Utah SCTP at (801) 210-1201.
The MidwayUSA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity working to sustain the shooting sports industry by providing long-term funding to youth shooting teams. Every donation made is 100% tax deductible and supports the mission to help communities and organizations raise funds to support their youth shooting team. The Foundation supports all shooting disciplines. Each year, teams can apply for a grant for 5% of their endowment balance to use for expenses, such as range fees, travel, ammunition, uniforms and more. 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.
