The NRA Foundation and Friends of NRA were proud to be Platinum Sponsors of The USA High School Clay Target League National Championship which took place at the MTA Homegrounds in Mason, Michigan July 6-10. There were over 230 five person teams, and 1,800 individual shooters who competed for the title of National Champion, all surrounded by their coaches, families, and chaperones. There were tens of thousands of rounds shot, thousands of firearms handled safely, and months to years of practice all to strive to be the next champion.
Al Herman, the Friends of NRA Senior Field Representative in Michigan, managed a tent at the event and helped lend a hand when needed. Many people mentioned to him how the support of Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation helped teams get started, and without the continuing support from Friends of NRA and The NRA Foundation, they would not have teams or individuals shooting at the competition.” Throughout the event, Al was proud to watch how the youth competing safely handled firearms. “They were well-mannered and dedicated to the point where they even kept shooting through a heavy rain storm,” he noted. Al spoke highly of The USA Clay Target League because, “it is a great program that helps to instill discipline, comradery, teamwork, and a sense of belonging in thousands of young people, and should be supported now and in the future.”
Like any sport, leading up the Championship requires plenty of practice and investment. This year alone, the various state high school Clay Target Leagues, all under USA High School Clay Target League, have been awarded over $52,200 in grant merchandise and monetary awards through 18 unique grants from The NRA Foundation. This grant money is vital to teaching firearm safety and preparing teams for competitions.
The NRA Foundation works in tandem with Friends of NRA. All of the event net proceeds from Friends of NRA events support The NRA Foundation’s charitable mission. Since inception, Friends of NRA has raised over $1 billion gross dollars for The NRA Foundation. These grants provide essential funding that benefit programs such as youth education, law enforcement training, hunter education, conservation, firearms and marksmanship training and safety, and much more.
State Fund Grant applications open on August 4, 2022. For state grant guidelines, Frequently Asked Questions, and information on capital or range improvement grants go to https://www.nrafoundation.org/grants/ .
