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Friends of NRA Announces 2010 National Corporate Sponsor MidwayUSA

NRAFoundation.org

FAIRFAX, Va. --(AmmoLand.com)- MidwayUSA and its CEO, Larry Potterfield, have pledged $50,000 to become a Friends of NRA 2010 National Corporate Sponsor.

The donation will be used to provide funding for NRA Foundation programs dedicated to youth and women’s shooting sports, range development and law enforcement such as the Eddie Eagle GunSafe program, Refuse to be a Victim and Women on Target.

MidwayUSA is a world leader in shooting and reloading supplies which it sells online and through mail-order catalogues. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, they have maintained their strong commitment to Friends of NRA and the shooting sports over the years. Brenda Potterfield, co-owner and wife of Larry, has previously served as the Vice President of the NRA Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

Friends of NRA is a grassroots fund-raising program that fosters community involvement, raises money, and gives 100% of the net proceeds to qualified local, state, and national programs. Working with the NRA’s field staff, thousands of volunteers nationwide participate in the program by organizing committees and planning events in their communities.

Larry Potterfield was instrumental in the startup of Friends of NRA with the founding of the first chapter in Columbia, Missouri, in 1992. Since then, Friends of NRA has expanded to hold over 12,000 events. The original chapter still holds its monthly meetings at the MidwayUSA building.

“Since the beginning of the program, the shooting and hunting industry has been a key source of financial support in achieving fundraising goals,” said John da Silva, National Manager of Events & Marketing for Friends of NRA. “Both Larry and Brenda Potterfield, along with their business, MidwayUSA, understood the significance of our mission and have generously contributed financial support at the local and national level for the Friends of NRA program.

“This new corporate sponsorship commitment has established a standard [for the program]. We are very grateful for this $50,000 annual contribution and look forward to Midway and other corporations financial support of the Friends of NRA program and The NRA Foundation,” said da Silva.

“Everyone knows that Friends of NRA has been a tremendous financial success for NRA and the shooting sports programs in the states,” said Potterfield. “But often overlooked is the grassroots networking value it brings to NRA members and the NRA organization. At every event you get to see and talk with ‘Friends of NRA’.”

In addition to helping establish Friends of NRA, MidwayUSA has asked customers to round up the total of each order and donate the change to the NRA/ILA since 1992. The Potterfields have also created several educational endowments in the NRA.

Visit the Friends of NRA website at www.friendsofnra.org. For more information contact Event Services Manager Jeremy Greene at (703) 267-1354 or jgreene@nrahq.org.

Visit the MidwayUSA website at www.midwayusa.com. For more information you can contact customerservice@midwayusa.com or call 1-800-243-3220.

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Friends of NRA nets $18M in 2009

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, VA – The NRA Foundation’s Friends of NRA program announced it has raised over $41 million during the 2009 banquet season. These monies produced over $18 million net dollars for local and national grant purposes. Both of these accomplishments are records for Friends of NRA.

On November 13, the Colorado State Friends of NRA banquet raised approximately $105,000 in net income, which helped push the program over the $18 million mark. Eight other banquets this year had a net income of over $100,000, with the leader being Pennsylvania’s First Friends of NRA committee, who raised $170,000.

“Our success is directly attributed to the hard work and support of our volunteers, attendees, and national and local supporters,” said Kyle Weaver, Managing Director of Field Operations. “Their drive and hard work is producing these funds and ensuring the future of the shooting sports.”

Friends of NRA is a grassroots fund-raising program that fosters community involvement, raises money, and gives 100% of the net proceeds to qualified local, state, and national programs. Working with the NRA’s field staff, thousands of volunteers nationwide participate in the program by organizing committees and planning events in their communities.

“I think it says a lot about not only our NRA members and folks that come out to the Friends of NRA events, but those of us who are hunters or competitive shooters, or those that are proud to be gun owners,” said John DaSilva, National Manager of Events and Marketing. “We all have something to support, and this program does just that with the money that it raises.”

All net proceeds from Friends of NRA events benefit The NRA Foundation, with half allocated to fund projects within the state where the money was raised. The NRA Foundation uses the other half to fund similar projects with a national scope. Organizations that receive funding promote the shooting sports dedicated to youth and women’s programs, law enforcement, and range development among others.

This year’s success may be partly attributed to Friends of NRA making technological leaps. “In 2009, we made a concerted effort to focus on new marketing techniques including email blasts and online tickets sales,” said Jeremy Greene, Event Services Manager. “These new tools enabled us to reach a wider audience and push Friends of NRA over the $18 million mark for the first time.”

Visit the Friends of NRA website at www.friendsofnra.org. For more information contact Event Services Manager Jeremy Greene at (703) 267-1354

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