2009

YSSA Online Auctions Exceed 100,000
Product Viewings

During the first two months of conducting online auctions of donated firearms and other sporting goods, the items sold by the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) have been viewed by 104,715 prospective bidders according to GunBroker.com - the web’s largest hunting and sport shooting auction. YSSA has auctioned either new or sparingly used items donated via their “Donated Firearms Program” from Savage Sports Corporation, O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., Leupold & Stevens, Inc., TALO Distributors, Inc., and GATCO Sharpeners/Timberline Knives.

The Donated Firearms Program, featured on YSSA’s website www.youthshootingsa.com, encourages the donation of firearms which, in turn, are sold on GunBroker.com. Donated items are listed without a reserve bid and are awarded to the highest bidder. The Youth Shooting Sports Alliance, a 501(c)(3) private foundation, provides donors with a tax deductible receipt upon the sale of each item as well as buyers for the amount of their bid that exceeds the fair market value of the item. This novel means of generating funds is used to purchase equipment and supplies needed by priority youth shooting sports programs nationwide.

“The Donated Firearms Program provides an opportunity for sportsmen and women to donate their old guns and help the YSSA build the next generation of shooters” said David Baron, President of Baron Technology, Inc. and President of YSSA. Baron added “It may be just your old gun, but put in the right hands, it can help sustain the sport of shooting while strengthening the core values of the next generation of shooters and hunters.”

South Carolina 4-H gets a Program Boost from YSSA

“This gift is incredible! Your generosity will impact hundreds of SC 4-H youth and volunteers” stated Kellye Reinbert, 4-H Youth Development Director at Clemson University. The YSSA provided quite an inventory to the South Carolina 4-H Shooting Sports program to include 24 Genesis compound bows, 25 dozen Easton-Truflite 1820 aluminum arrows, 20 shooting glasses, 10 Avanti Champion training rifles, 2 Avanti Legend competition rifles, 7 savage Model MARK I .22 cal. rifles, 5 Mossberg Model 930 12 ga. Automloader shotguns, 2 Do-All Aerial Assault automatic trap machines, 20 shooting mats and 20 cases of Winchester target loads. James F. Barker, President of Clemson University added “Clemson is pleased to have the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance as a valued partner in our mission.”

Mobile Area Council, BSA Treats 700 Scouts
to the Joy of Shooting

The Mobile Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, had 700 Scouts participate in rifle shooting, shotgun shooting, archery and clay shoots with equipment provided by the YSSA. The YSSA provided 30 Daisy BB guns, 5 Savage MARK I .22 cal. rifles, 4 Mossberg Super Bantam 20 ga. shotguns, a Do-All Aerial Assault automatic trap machine, 6 Arrowstp 32” round targets with easels, 35 dozen Easton-Truflite 1820 aluminum arrows, 5 Cabela’s canvas gun storage cases, and 2 cases of Winchester .22 LR target cartridges to the Council. “All of these items have been used at the Boy Scout Summer Camp, Cub Scout Family Camps and Cub Scout Day Camps” said Cary Wilson, Assistant Scout Executive. He added “On behalf of the Mobile Area Council, BSA, we salute and thank you for your kindness.”

O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. Supports YSSA’S New Donated Firearms Program.

The Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) recently announced that O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. has generously donated a collection of sparingly used shotguns to the YSSA in support of their new Donated Firearms Program.

Mossberg, the leader in introducing important design breakthroughs to the firearm industry since 1919, donated seven Mossberg Model 500C 20 ga. shotguns and twelve Mossberg Model 835 12 ga. shotguns to the program. Several of these donated firearms are Mossberg combo models which feature a combination of shotgun barrel and rifled barrel for different hunting applications.

The Donated Firearms program, featured on YSSA’s website www.youthshootingsa.com, encourages the donation of firearms which, in turn, will be sold on GunBroker.com – the web’s largest hunting and sport shooting auction. Firearms are listed without a reserve bid and are awarded to the highest bidder. The Youth Shooting Sports Alliance, a 501(c)(3) private foundation, will provide donors with a tax deductible receipt upon the sale of each firearm.

Mark Kresser, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Mossberg, states “We have enjoyed our partnership with the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance and we count on the recommendations of the YSSA regarding the youth shooting sports programs that promise the greatest potential for growth and participation levels. With their guidance, we are confident that our support will help elevate local shooting sports from ‘good’ to ‘excellent.’”

“The Donated Firearms Program provides an opportunity for sportsmen and women to donate their old guns and help the YSSA build the next generation of shooters” said David Baron, President of Baron Technology, Inc. and President of YSSA. Baron added “It may be just your old gun, but put in the right hands, it can help sustain the sport of shooting while strengthening the core values of the next generation of shooters and hunters.”
Mossberg’s products are built to world-class levels of manufacturing standards and for more than a decade, the Mossberg pump-action shotgun models have served as one of the most practical shotguns ever made. For more information on Mossberg products, visit their website at www.mossberg.com.

Savage Sports Corporation “Jump Starts” YSSA’S
New Donated Firearms Program.

The Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) received a “jump start” to its new “Donated Firearms Program” from the Savage Sports Corporation with a generous donation of 72 rifles and pistols.

Ron Coburn, Chairman/CEO of Savage Sports Corporation, and a passionate supporter of youth shooting sports programs, saw an opportunity to kick off this novel means of generating funds to purchase equipment and supplies needed by priority youth shooting sports programs nationwide.
Ron stated “I dug out a list of salesmen samples and writer’s guns that we have quarantined for future need. In reality, they will just sit around a long time. There are over 70 such items in all calibers- so there is something for everyone. The cumulative fair market value of these firearms is substantial, but again, they are just collecting dust and could use a good home.”

Steve Miller, Executive Director, Youth Shooting Sports Alliance, and Ed Konrad, owner of Red's Army/Navy, Kitty Hawk, NC, unpack the initial shipment of firearms donated by the Savage Sports Corporation to benefit YSSA's Donated Firearms Program."

The Donated Firearms program, featured on YSSA’s website www.youthshootingsa.com, encourages the donation of firearms which, in turn, will be sold on GunBroker.com – the web’s largest hunting and sport shooting auction. Firearms will be listed without a reserve bid and will be awarded to the highest bidder. The Youth Shooting Sports Alliance, a 501(c)(3) private foundation, will provide donors with a tax deductible receipt upon the sale of each firearm.

Taurus International Mfg., Inc. Supports Programs

The Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) recently announced that Taurus International Mfg., Inc., Miami, FL, has generously donated Rossi matched pair 20 ga./.22 LR guns in support of priority youth shooting sports programs. The Rossi matched pair consists of a single shot rifle with an interchangeable shotgun barrel. The firearm operates with a single shot, break-open design.

Taurus donated six Rossi matched pairs to the Heart of Virginia Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Richmond, VA; six Rossi matched pairs to the Tukabatchee Area Council, BSA, Montgomery, AL; six Rossi matched pairs to the Gerald R. Ford Council, BSA, Grand Rapids, MI; and two Rossi matched pairs to the Longs Peak Council, BSA, Greeley, CO. These programs were among those selected by an industry panel convened to review proposals submitted by youth organizations in response to the 2008 National Youth Shooting Sports Program Needs Assessment conducted by YSSA.

Taurus has been recognized as a passionate supporter of youth shooting sports programs and has provided noteworthy leadership and support in restoring Camp Seminole, the primary camping facilities of the South Florida Council, BSA, which were devastated by Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Taurus has tirelessly worked in partnership with the Council to rebuild Camp Seminole and provide the Scouts with a quality camping facility to include a safe, structured shooting program and range for them to reengage in the sport of shooting.

David J. Blenker, Taurus Executive Vice President, CFO and COO, states “We are pleased to work with the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance to address those limiting factors to growth attributable to equipment for such deserving youth shooting sports programs.”

Taurus acquired manufacturing and distribution rights of all Rossi products in 2008. Rossi Firearms, an industry-leading manufacturer of single-shot, matched pair rifles and shotguns, also produces Rossi black-powder muzzleloading rifles and youth-size mini-loaders. Distribution of all Rossi products in the United States continues through BrazTech International in Miami. For more information on Rossi and Taurus products, visit their websites at www.rossiusa.com and www.taurususa.com.

Savage Sports Corporation Continues Support

The Savage Sports Corporation, Westfield, MA, a long-time supporter of youth shooting sports programs, recently announced their continuing support of the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) by providing rifles in support of priority youth shooting sports programs.

Ron Coburn, Chairman/CEO of Savage Sports Corp., states “The YSSA is providing a valuable service to the shooting sports industry by identifying the youth shooting sports programs that best contribute to the future market goals of the industry. There are a great number of quality youth programs across America that need help in acquiring equipment and supplies. Finding the right programs to support can be a difficult and time-consuming process. The YSSA makes it easy by identifying groups with the greatest potential return on investment and prioritizing them based on criteria such as program quality, potential for growth and participation levels.”

The following priority youth shooting sports programs are receiving Savage Mark I .22 rifles in support of their respective programs. These programs were among those selected by an industry panel convened to review proposals submitted by youth organizations in response to the 2008 National Youth Shooting Sports Program Needs Assessment:

1. Great Trail Council, BSA, Akron, OH - 4 Savage Mark I .22 LR rifles

2. Montana 4-H Shooting Sports - 4 Savage Mark I .22 LR rifles

3. South Carolina 4-H Shooting Sports Program - 7 Savage Mark I .22 LR rifles

4. Sioux Council, BSA, Sioux Falls, SD - 8 Savage Mark I .22 LR rifles

5. Mt. Diablo Silverado Council, BSA, Pleasant Hill, CA - 7 Savage Mark I .22 LR rifles

Savage Sports Corporation is comprised of Savage Arms, a leading manufacturer of center fire rifles in Westfield, MA and rim fire rifles in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada; Stevens, a major brand of center fire rifles, rim fire rifles and shotguns; Fox, a high-quality brand name for shotguns; Savage Range Systems, a manufacturer of patented shooting ranges and bullet traps; Porta Target, an industry leader in ranges targets and shoot houses; and most recently, BowTech Archery, a major manufacturer of compound bows with facilities in Eugene, Oregon. For more information on Savage products, visit their website at www.savagearms.com.

Blackpowder Products, Inc. Provides Support

Blackpowder Products, Inc. (BPI) enthusiastically answered a request from the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) to provide muzzleloading rifles and accessories in support of the shooting sports program offered by the Heart of Virginia Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Council offers shooting sports activities to over 24,000 Scouts in 23 counties in central Virginia. The Council was selected as a priority youth shooting sports program by the YSSA following a review of proposals submitted in response to the 2008 National Youth Shooting Sports Program Needs Assessment.

BPI donated five Wolf 209 Magnum Break-Action Blued/Camo muzzleloaders in support of this dynamic youth program. The Wolf is CVA’s newest break-action muzzleloader and comes standard with fiber optic sights, stainless steel breech plug, ventilated recoil pad and an all-aluminum extendable loading rod. BPI also donated Barrel Blaster rust blaster plugs, Fill-R-Up bore cleaner, cleaning patches and 250 .50 cal. Powerbelt copper series bullets – America’s #1 muzzleloading bullet – to the Council. For more information on CVA products, visit their website at www.cva.com.

The shooting sports are a huge part of the Heart of Virginia Council’s year-round program and has been growing for the past 20 years. The Council has new shooting facilities, but their muzzleloader equipment inventory was limited and they welcomed these generous donations to provide opportunities to the Scouts to experience this shooting discipline.

Nate Treadaway, President and COO of BPI states “We are proud to partner with the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance in supporting this outstanding youth shooting sports program. We know that we can count on the YSSA to recommend programs that have the greatest potential return on our industry’s investment based on their potential for growth and participation.”

Blackpowder Products, Inc. is the parent company to many highly successful brands in the hunting and shooting industry, including CVA, PowerBelt Bullets, Quake Industries, DuraSight Scope Mounts, and Bergara Barrels. BPI is located in Norcross, GA. For more information on BPI, visit their website at www.bpiguns.com.

Daisy Outdoor Products Supports Priority Programs

The Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) recently announced that Daisy Outdoor Products, the world’s oldest and largest producer of airguns, has continued their generous donation to YSSA for use in support of youth shooting sports programs.

Daisy has been a long-time supporter of youth shooting safety and youth shooting sports programs. The company recognizes the impact that the YSSA is having on enabling organizations to introduce young and first-time shooters safely to airguns and to all disciplines of the shooting sports.

“The YSSA is doing a tremendous job of identifying, assessing and prioritizing needs. They are matching up donors who want to perpetuate the shooting sports with organizations which have a passion for youth shooting programs, but may lack the finances to acquire the equipment,” said Joe Murfin, Vice President of Marketing for Daisy and a member of the YSSA Board of Directors. “By making this donation available to YSSA, they can continue to fulfill some of their grant requests for airguns.”

The following priority youth shooting sports programs receiving support were among those selected by an industry panel convened to review proposals submitted by youth organizations in response to the 2008 National Youth Shooting Sports Program Needs Assessment:

1. Tuckabatchee Area Council, BSA, Montgomery, AL
2. Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, Fairbanks, AK
3. South Florida Council, BSA, Miami Lakes, FL
4. Patriots’ Path Council, BSA, Florham Park, NJ
5. South Texas Council, BSA, Corpus Christi, TX
6. Walhalla Army JROTC, Walhalla, SC
7. Great Trail Council, BSA, Akron, OH
8. Gerald R. Ford Council, BSA, Grand Rapids, MI
9. Longs Peak Council, BSA, Greeley, CO
10. Montana 4-H Shooting Sports
11. South Carolina 4-H Shooting Sports Program
12. Mobile Area Council, BSA, Mobile, AL
13. Sioux Council, BSA, Sioux Falls, SD
14. Northern Lights Council, BSA, Fargo, ND
15. Palmetto Council, BSA, Spartanburg, SC

For more information on Daisy products, visit their website at www.daisy.com.

O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. Continues Support

The Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) recently announced that O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. has generously continued their support of priority youth shooting sports programs.

Mossberg, the leader in introducing important design breakthroughs to the firearm industry since 1919, donated two Mossberg 500 Super Bantam 20 ga. shotguns to the Mississippi 4-H Shooting Sports Program; four Mossberg 500 Super Bantam 20 ga. shotguns to the Mobile Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Mobile, AL; five Mossberg 500 Super Bantam 20 ga. shotguns to the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council, BSA, Pleasant Hill, CA; and four Mossberg 500 Super Bantam 20 ga. shotguns to the Palmetto Council, BSA, Spartanburg, SC. These programs were among those selected by an industry panel convened to review proposals submitted by youth organizations in response to the 2008 National Youth Shooting Sports Program Needs Assessment conducted by YSSA.

Mark Kresser, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Mossberg, states “We count on the recommendations of the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance regarding the youth shooting sports programs that promise the greatest potential for growth and participation levels. With their guidance, we are confident that our product donations will help elevate local shooting sports from ‘good’ to ‘excellent.’”

Mossberg’s products are built to world-class levels of manufacturing standards and for more than a decade, the Mossberg 500 pump-action shotgun has served as one of the most practical starter shotguns ever made. Now, with the same standards of quality, dependability, and safety in mind, shooters and hunters will find the 500 Super Bantam truly remarkable. Unequalled in practicality and loaded with custom-like features, these new pump-action shotguns provide an affordable opportunity for beginning and growing shooters to get started with a safe and reliable shotgun. The Mossberg 500 Super Bantam is the choice of young sportsmen and smaller framed shooters. For more information on Mossberg products, visit their website at www.mossberg.com.

Ellett Brothers, LLC Supports NRA-ILA and YSSA

Ellett Brothers, LLC, selected the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) and the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) as the beneficiaries of the proceeds raised from the silent auction held in conjunction with the 2009 Ellett Brothers Showcase Sale. NRA-ILA and the YSSA each received $15,000 in support of their respective programs.

The silent auction is held each year at the Ellett Brothers dealers show to benefit various shooting sports interests and programs. The money raised during the 2009 show brought contributions to a 6-year total of $210,000.

Hewitt Grant, President/CEO of Ellett Brothers, LLC (pictured at left) presents $15,000 check at the S.H.O.T. Show to Steve Miller, Executive Director, Youth Shooting Sports Alliance.

Hewitt Grant, President/CEO of Ellett Brothers, LLC, states “The NRA-ILA stands between our firearm freedoms and those who would take them away. Ellett Brothers openly prides itself as a ‘Friend of the NRA’ and recognizes their leadership role in preserving our Second Amendment rights.” Grant adds “However, a right not exercised is a right that can be lost. We believe there’s no better way to ensure the shooting sports industry continues to thrive than to give today’s young people access to local shooting programs, facilities and equipment that are safe, positive and inspire a lifelong passion for shooting and hunting. We have been impressed with the accomplishments of the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance in identifying and supporting the needs of successful and safe youth programs and venues that create measurable increases in youth participation in the shooting sports.”

Ellett Brothers, LLC, is a leading nationwide marketer and distributor of outdoor sporting goods with over 60,000 SKU’s, 800 manufacturers/suppliers, 20,000 independent retailers of shooting and marine sports products. For more information on Ellett Brothers, LLC, visit their website at www.ellettbrothers.com.

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