HAVA/Tennessee Wildlife Launch New Family Day Series
OutdoorHub 09.18.13
Two Organizations Join to Help Disabled Vets Recover
Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation (TWRF) jointly announce the successful launch of a new annual HAVA Family Day shooting event series at the TWRF-owned Montgomery County Shooting Complex near Fort Campbell in Clarksville, TN. With the first event conducted on September 14, 2013 at the MCSC complex, disabled veterans or wounded active military and families enjoyed a day of 3-gun and other shooting, casual competition, great food, gift bags, kids prizes and adult raffle prizes that totaled over $15,000 in value, all provided by a group of volunteers who wanted to give something back to these American heroes who have given so much in defense of freedom. In all, approximately 400 participated, including nearly 100 kids…100% of whom went home with a winner’s prize.
“We have been looking to add a Family Day series event in the southeast for several years and TWRF is the perfect partner for this new annual event,” said HAVA Chairman Tom Taylor. “The MCSC complex is first rate, and with their expansion plans including a new hotel/conference center, we knew that they would grow with us as the event expands. HAVA has grown in 6 years from a small hunt series to serving over 1,000 wounded annually, and we intend to continue to represent our industry with the finest veteran-support series of hunts and shooting events that we can achieve. Our sustaining sponsor list includes the giants of our industry, and our quality-first approach continues to attract new sponsors. We enjoy the support of competing companies in several categories, but focus on the veteran’s needs exclusively makes a statement that every company can embrace.”
“The HAVA formula of family involvement is unique among veteran service organizations conducting active shooting events in our experience,” noted TWRF Development Director Johnny Allred. “To watch the HAVA staff and professional shooters include the whole family with a safety and performance training approach is empowering to these folks who have sacrificed so much, and we and our volunteers were impressed by the relaxed professionalism. It was our distinct privilege to help these American wounded warriors return to active outdoor sports, and we just can’t wait until next year when we hope to serve at least twice as many families. There was no commercialism at the event, which is sponsored by gun and accessory companies — all of the focus was on the family — very refreshing.”
