On October 2nd, North Jersey Friends of NRA held their 1st Annual fundraising event in North Haledon, New Jersey. With more than 500 people in attendance, it was one of the largest Friends of NRA events in the country so far this year.
Friends of NRA Eastern Regional Director, David Wells, was in attendance and shared, “Experiencing this gathering firsthand was truly memorable. I have personally attended over 400 Friends of NRA events in my career, and I can confidently say this event ranks among the best.”
New Jersey events are unique in that it is the only state prohibiting the display of firearms at events, and state law further restricts the use of firearms, air guns, and knives in raffles or games of chance. These activities are core elements of a typical Friends event. However, despite these challenges, the North Jersey Friends of NRA committee successfully auctioned over 50 firearms and table sponsor incentives, raising over $50,000 for The NRA Foundation.
The success of the event is a testament to the dedication of the volunteer committee, led by John Occhipinti, his family, and their team, who executed the planning and management with remarkable professionalism.
Impressively, this was a new volunteer team and their first-ever banquet together. NRA Field Representative Greg Nyce’s selection of John Occhipinti as chairman was ideal; John is a respected community figure whose business acumen, personality, and connections made this event a resounding success. Greg remarked, “John and his son, JJ, ran this event as if they have been doing it for years.”
Friends of NRA Committees are dedicated local volunteers who play a key role in organizing and running the event. They engage with their communities by soliciting donations, selling event tickets, distributing flyers, spreading the word, and securing sponsors. Many times, volunteers also help by coordinating event logistics, setting up and decorating the venue, managing guest registration, and ensuring everything runs smoothly on the day of the event.
“Friends of NRA is an important grassroots effort put on by your friends and your freedom-loving neighbors. From supporting worthy projects such as promoting firearm safety to range improvements to youth shooting programs, Friends of NRA events are critical to the future of the shooting sports,” said NRA CEO and Executive Vice President Doug Hamlin. “I’d like to thank the hard-working, dedicated volunteers for their time and efforts that make these events possible.”
Selling out a 500-attendee event is a remarkable achievement, even for the most experienced committees, and it highlights the strong support for our mission in the Garden State.
Reflecting on the event’s success, John shared, “We are proud of the record support for this year’s event. The investment in our youth and the next generation of New Jersey Second Amendment supporters is in the forefront to ensure the values of freedom and responsibility endure for years to come.” John looks forward to building on their achievements and having another great event next year.
The NRA Foundation and Friends of NRA program are proud to celebrate the success of this New Jersey event and extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who volunteered their time. We look forward to even greater milestones with the North Jersey Friends of NRA committee in the future.
To attend a Friends of NRA event near you, go to: https://www.friendsofnra.org/events
To volunteer with Friends of NRA, sign up at: https://www.friendsofnra.org/volunteer/
