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Photos: Mustafa Bilala thousand new events added every year. With the helpof thousands of volunteers nationwide, Friends of NRAhas raised millions of charitable dollars for The NRAFoundation benefiting youth education, firearm safetyand training, hunter safety, marksmanship training, rangedevelopment and improvements, and conservation projects.As the leader in the fight to preserve our country’sfirearms heritage and future, The NRA Foundationcontinues to support the programs that provide Americansthe opportunity to enjoy the shooting sports. Many industryleaders support The NRA Foundation and with this newdonation Kimber continues the legacy even further andexemplifies a renewed commitment level for others tofollow.The Friends of NRA program has become the drivingforce for protecting the future of the shooting sports.With a strong group of volunteers who share a passion forfreedom leading the way, Friends of NRA is working toensure that every generation will be able to experience thesame activities enjoyed by our forefathers.“This donation is amazing on so many levels,” said KyleWeaver, NRA’s Managing Director of Field Operations. “Itcould not have come at a better time, and it could not bemore appreciated. Kimber is one of the giants in the firearmindustry, and one of the strongest supporters to both NRAand The NRA Foundation.”Furthermore, Kimber added, they recognize theimportance of The NRA Foundation and the critical workin which it is engaged. In keeping with a long history ofdonations and special editions which have proven verysuccessful; Kimber wanted to take their support to a higherlevel. Kimber is proud of the Marias shotgun donationand are certain that it will provide excellent fundraisingopportunities for The NRA Foundation at Friends of NRAevents nationwide. These shotguns are among the mostfinely crafted over & unders available and they adherestrictly to the classic English sidelock design making themextremely desirable. This donation is a way for Kimberto say “thank you” to the NRA and in turn provide TheFoundation with opportunities to say “thank you” to someof its most important contributors.The Marias over & under is one of the finest shotgunsTraditions Quarter 3: 2008available and has been reviewed by NRA’s own Mark Keefe,Editor in Chief of American Rifleman. “Built on the linesof great English stackbarrels, it is an intriguing blend ofmodern manufacturing techniques and old-fashioned handcraftsmanship. Oh, and it’s a delight afield, too.” Each ofthese donated guns will be used to uphold the spirit andlegacy Kimber has afforded with every feature standing astestament of Kimber’s commitment to quality.You have the opportunity to join a select group of proudAmericans in continuing the Kimber Legacy and joinothers nationwide those whose love and commitment tothe shooting sports will ensure its vitality for years to comethrough the Friends of NRA national sponsor program.As a Friends of NRA Sponsor, you will be entitled toa number of benefits—notably the sponsor sculpture, asponsor decal, a sponsor hat, and the NRA Foundation’squarterly magazine, Traditions, keeping you updated on TheNRA Foundation and Friends of NRA. Most importantly,100 percent of your sponsorship pledge will go to the NRAFoundation. These Kimber Shotguns will now be availableto anyone interested in becoming a Friends of NRA KimberLevel Sponsor. The cost is 7,500 and you can choose fromone of these beautiful 20GA Marias shotguns. We haveGrade I and Grade II, Prince of Wales semi-pistol grip orEnglish straight stock and 26”, 28”, or 30” barrel lengths.All come with a set of five thin-wall choke tubes included,automatic ejectors and single non-selective triggers butquantities are limited. Your local NRA Field Representativecan discuss this new sponsor level in depth and whatmodels are still available at the time you purchase yoursponsorship.With your support, as a Friends of NRA Kimber nationalsponsor, future generations will enjoy the same rights andprivileges that have helped shape our lives! If interested inpurchasing one of these sponsorships please contact yourlocal NRA Field Representative www.friendsofnra.org orattend a local Friends of NRA event in your area.From all of us at The NRA Foundation, NRAand Friends of NRA we thank you, Kimber, for thisunprecedented gift. We encourage all to participate bybecoming one of the first Friends of NRA Kimber sponsorsand continuing the legacy.5

Foundation NewsA Motivating MomentNRA Foundation Sponsors Jump at the Chanceto “Be Someone’s Hero”The 2008 Annual Meetingin Louisville, Ky., was thesite of an inspiring momentfor The NRA Foundation. Leadingup to the events, a unique EliteSponsorship Package was created forindividuals whose heart and resourceswould allow them to show their loveand commitment to the future of theshooting sports.This program featured 15 firearmssigned by NRA Executive VicePresident Wayne LaPierre, as well as a 30,000 sponsorship level that enabledWhen the sponsorship wasannounced to the crowd of over1,100 National NRA FoundationBanquet attendees, two individualsimmediately reacted and hustledover to the sponsor table. RichardHampe from Galesville, Wis.,and William Hanlon from Bethel,Conn., were instantly greeted withapplause from the crowd when it wasannounced that they were The NRAFoundation’s Elite Sponsors. RichardHampe reflected that he looked overthe sponsorship opportunities andonce he saw the impact the Elite levelwould have on The NRA Foundationand the joy of hunting he could bringto some of our proudest troops, hejumped at the chance.Colorado Hunting Expeditionsis located in the beautiful San JuanMountains in Southwest Coloradoand is going to be the site of anamazing hunt. They have exclusiveelk and deer hunting rights onthousands of private acres and theirranches range in elevation from 6,000ft. in the winter to over 10,000 ft.in the summer, allowing excellenthunting in all seasons. ColoradoHunting Expeditions has put togetherthis incredible package in supportof the great work our armed servicesis doing overseas and The NRAFoundation truly appreciates theirsupport.a charitable donor to receive a 5-day,6-night fully guided Colorado bull elkand trophy mule deer hunt in 2009with Colorado Hunting Expeditionsin Southwest Colorado. This is goingto be an amazing trip, but what makesthis sponsorship such a remarkablepackage is the donor will draw fiveveterans of the War on Terror to cometo Colorado and hunt elk in a speciallate season in 2009.Colorado Field Representative Marc Steinkethanks Elite Sponsors Richard Hampe andWilliam Hanlon for their generous contributions.6Traditions Quarter 3: 2008

NRA FoundationEarns Highest Rating forSixth Consecutive YearFor the sixth consecutive year,The NRA Foundation hasreceived a four-star rating fromCharity Navigator, America’s largestindependent evaluator of charities.Rated for efficiency and effectiveness,four stars is Charity Navigator’shighest rating. In the past 16 years,the foundation has funded more than15,000 grants totaling more than 100million dollars, becoming America’sleading charitable organization insupport of competitive shooting, rangedevelopment, education and training,and the second amendment.Charity Navigator’s Vince Boguckisaid in a letter to the foundation,“Receiving four out of a possible fourstars indicates that your organizationexcels, as compared to other charitiesin America, in successfully managingyour finances in an efficient andeffective manner.” He added, “Thisconsistency in your rating is anexceptional feat, especially given theeconomic challenges many charitieshave had to face in the last year.”The NRA Foundation raises moneyin a variety of ways, ranging fromphilanthropic individuals, businessesand foundations to its volunteer-drivenFriends of NRA program. Organizedby volunteers throughout the country,this grassroots program has raised morethan 100 million since its inceptionin 1992.“The Charity Navigator’s ratingis reaffirming what our donors andmembers know. We are effective atfunding shooting, training, educationalTraditions Quarter 3: 2008“The Charity Navigator’srating is reaffirming whatour donors and membersknow. We are effectiveat funding shooting,training, educational andcommunity programsbecause we arepassionate about thesecond amendment.”—Kayne Robinson,Executive Director ofGeneral Operationsand community programs becausewe are passionate about the secondamendment,” Executive Director ofGeneral Operations Kayne Robinsonsaid. “The second amendment is ourright but it needs to be exercised.The NRA Foundation provides thatexercise in its daily preservation of ourright to keep and bear arms.”Established in 1990, The NRAFoundation, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) taxexempt organization that raises taxdeductible contributions in support ofa wide range of firearm-related publicinterest activities of the NationalRifle Association of America andother organizations that defendand foster the Second Amendmentrights of all law-abiding Americans.These activities are designed topromote firearms and hunting safety,to enhance marksmanship skills ofthose participating in the shootingsports, and to educate the generalpublic about firearms in their historic,technological and artistic context.More information about The NRAFoundation can be found online atwww.nrafoundation.org.To view the Four-Star rating report byCharity Navigator please visit ary/orgid/5450.htm.7

Foundation NewsThird AnnualNemacolin WoodlandsHeritage Society EventBrings Patriots TogetherBy Ashley WeaverAssistant Director Planned Giving, Donor RelationsOver forty NRA HeritageSociety members gatheredin July to enjoy theshooting sports, resort activities, andfellowship with like-minded patriotsat the Third Annual NemacolinWoodlands Heritage Society event.Ben Phillips, 10, of Ligonier, Pa., scored 67out of 75 targets on the sporting clays courseat The Shooting Academy at NemacolinWoodlands Resort, outscoring all but oneperson in attendance.8The Heritage Society is the NRA’splanned giving donor recognitionsociety. With more than 1,100members, the Heritage Societyconsists of people who have includedthe NRA or one it’s affiliates in theirestate plans. Ambassador Membersof the Heritage Society have takentheir commitment to a higher leveland have documented their gift withthe NRA Office of Advancement’sPlanned Giving department.One benefit of membership in theNRA Heritage Society is invitationsto attend exclusive events that takeplace not only during the NRAAnnual Meetings & Exhibits, butalso throughout the country duringthe year, such as the annual event atNemacolin Woodlands Resort.Nemacolin Woodlands Resort islocated in the Laurel Highlands ofbeautiful southwestern Pennsylvania,and is situated on 3,000 acres.Whether you are into the shootingsports, golf, fly fishing, wildlife, fine artor snow skiing, Nemacolin has it all.This year, Nemacolin WoodlandsResort was the primary sponsor ofthis Heritage Society event. Othersponsors included Weatherby, andOutdoor Marketing Group, whodonated a 2008 Friends of NRA Gunof the Year—a Weatherby OrionD’Italia O/U 12GA Shotgun.At the 2008 event, guests enjoyeda private reception at Nemacolin’sGun Museum before heading todinner on Friday evening where BenCase, Executive Director of the NRAOffice of Advancement, was thefeatured speaker. On Saturday, guestsgathered at The Shooting Academyfor a friendly round of sporting claysand lunch. Events like this are proofthat defending freedom can also be alot of fun. The attendees’ enthusiasm,dedication, and friendship made it awonderful experience.When the Lewis Class prizes wereawarded, attendees were all humblyreminded of the critical need tosafeguard the future of the SecondAmendment and the shootingsports when Ben Phillips, 10, ofLigonier, Pa., outshot every personin attendance except for one. Benscored 67 out of 75 targets. This wasBen’s first time ever shooting sportingclays. This is further evidence that theyouth is the future of the NRA.Please join us for the next HeritageSociety event, “Fall in Fairfax,” fromOctober 9-11, 2008. This uniqueopportunity will take place at NRAHeadquarters in Fairfax, Va., andthe surrounding Washington, D.C.area. Heritage Society members andthose interested in learning moreabout remembering the NRA in theirestate plans will not want to miss theexciting events taking place at Fall inFairfax.For more information on “Fall inFairfax” or becoming an AmbassadorMember of the Heritage Society byleaving the NRA or one of its affiliatesin your estate plan, please contact theOffice of Advancement’s Planned Givingdepartment at 877-NRA-GIVE orplannedgiving@nrahq.org.Traditions Quarter 3: 2008

7RITING THE WORDS TOOKMINUTES "UT NOW ) LLDEFEND FREEDOM FOREVER 7ITH ONE SIMPLE SENTENCE )ADDED 4HE .2! &OUNDATIONENDOWMENT TO MY WILL !SA PERMANENT PART OF THEENDOWMENT MY ESTATE DOLLARSWILL LEAVE A LEGACY OF FREEDOMLONG AFTER MY LIFETIME &ORSIMPLE BEQUEST LANGUAGE TOINCLUDE IN YOUR WILL CALL .2! ')6% TO GETYOUR FREE COPY OF OUR EASY TOUNDERSTAND BROCHURE7AYS OF 'IVING 7!9.% ,!0)%22%4RUSTEE4HE .2! &OUNDATIONWWW .2!&OUNDATION ORG4HE .2! &OUNDATION IS A C ORGANIZATION #ONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE TO THE FULL EXTENTALLOWED BY LAW 4HE .2! &OUNDATION TAX ) NUMBER IS Ú 4HE .2! &OUNDATIONLaPierreAd PF.indd 18/17/07 10:37:56 AM

Foundation NewsAugust Busch IIIto Match Gifts toBenefit theNRAYouthHunterEducationChallenge10Cody Wolfe, 16, Tioga, Pa., muzzleloader eventLifelong hunter and renowned conservationistAugust Busch III has recently announceda matching-gift challenge to support andencourage continued growth in NRA’s YouthHunter Education Challenge (YHEC).A passionate duck hunter and life member of NRA,Busch is challenging the hunting community to step up andsupport YHEC––a program that has already reached morethan 1.2 million young adults since its inception in 1985.Mr. Busch offers this simple challenge to shootingenthusiasts: for every 2 that’s donated or pledged towardYHEC by the end of 2008, he will contribute 1—up toa maximum of 250,000. He plans to help raise a total of 750,000 to support YHEC, NRA’s oldest continuouslyoperated program.“As a hunter and outdoorsman, naturally I’m concernedTraditions Quarter 3: 2008

about the future of our sport,” said Busch. “I want to doeverything in my power to ensure we’re doing as much aswe can to recruit new hunters, and to encourage everyonefamiliar with our heritage to continue to enjoy it.”Busch recalls fondly the precious time he spent outdoorswhile growing up. He wants to help today’s young peopleenjoy the same benefits of spending time outside with theirfamilies.“Hunting is a tradition that goes much deeper thanmerely providing meat for your table,” Busch said.“Programs like NRA’s YHEC help teach those criticallessons to today’s youth.”NRA’s YHEC program is an advanced internationaleducation shooting competition designed to teach and testyoung hunters in eight different events, from marksmanshipto hunting ethics and navigation. YHEC is enjoyed byapproximately 50,000 young people in the United Statesand through Canadian provincial-level YHECs each year,in addition to the hundreds who compete at the annualinternational event.“Nationwide declines in hunter accident rates bear outthe value of hunter education,” said Bob Davis, managerof NRA’s Hunter Services department. “The result is ageneration of better trained, more responsible and moreskillful young hunters.”Competitors, volunteers and spectators meet a varietykindred spirits at YHEC events. Former YHEC competitorTed Shaver is a fine example of the types of people oneis likely to meet at a YHEC event. After intentionallyquestioning a score he received on the .22 range, Shaver’sscore was actually lowered by 10 points. He questioned hisscore because he knew it was too high.Shaver, who was 14 at the time, illustrates perfectlywhat Aldo Leopold meant when he wrote in A Sand CountyAlmanac, “A peculiar virtue in wildlife ethics is that thehunter obviously has no gallery to applaud or disapproveof his conduct. Whatever his acts, they are dictated by hisown conscious, rather than a mob of onlookers.”Busch echoed Shaver’s sentiments toward NRA’srenowned youth education program. “Once I took a lookat YHEC, I saw it offered exactly the kind of educationalopportunities and challenges that I want to encouragetoday’s youth to experience,” said Busch, adding thatyoung people have told him the NRA is providing a great,positive hunting experience through YHEC. “I’m excited tosee how other sportsmen and outdoor organizations cometogether to support this program and to see how NRA isable to expand the program to reach even more youth inthe future.”Traditions Quarter 3: 2008“The YHEC program not only produces responsible,skillful young hunters,” said NRA’s Davis, “it showcasesthe best qualities of American youngsters—sportsmanship,teamwork and individual discipline. These kids are idealrepresentatives of hunting, and of their communities.”Beginning with its launch in 1985, YHEC has prosperedthanks to volunteer hunter education instructors, stateconservation agencies, and shooting sports organizations.Its success over the past two decades is attributed largely tostate coordinators who help organize teams and events.The National Rifle Association has been a leader inhunting and wildlife conservation since its inception in1871; in fact, it has a department staffed with experts whoare dedicated to serving the needs of hunters. ThroughYHEC and other education programs, NRA’s HunterServices department encompasses the entire spectrum ofhunting-related topics and provides training opportunitiesat all skill levels.“Hunting, more than perhaps any other sport,encourages self-reliance,” said Busch, emphasizing that itbuilds character. “What it requires of us, leaves us better offfor having worked so hard to achieve success.”For more information about the Busch Matching Opportunityand to become involved with the YHEC program, please callHeide Kaser at (703) 267-1622 or visit www.nragive.com.Cassidee Dunford, 15,Mountain Green, Utah,shotgun eventAaron Carr, 19, Greers Ferry, Ark.,archery event(l. to r.)GarrettRathbun, 16,Pine City,N.Y., andEthan Moss,18, Milan,Pa., both inorienteeringevent11

Friends UpdateWestern RegionGrant SpotlightFriends of the NRA Grant Enables a DisabledShooter to “Ride the River” with the CowboysNorco, CaliforniaB y J . Yo u d e nF r i e n d s o f N R A Tr e a s u r e rInland Empire ChapterThe NRA Foundation awardshundreds of grants toorganizations across our greatcountry each year supporting shootingsports and promoting firearm andhunting safety. It is estimated thatCalifornia has the largest numberof shooters and registered firearmsof any state, and, by some industryestimations, accounts for almost 38%of all firearm sales.Friends of NRA is very active inCalifornia, and rightly so. Despite itsseemingly adamant antigun stance,California is home to many who enjoythe sport, and was the starting pointfor many of the shooting sports weenjoy today. One of these is the funsport of Cowboy Action Shooting(CAS). California is the birthplace ofthe two organizations responsible forthe creation of this sport—the SingleAction Shooting Society (SASS) andWestern 3 Gun (W3G).This past year, Friends of NRA12Above: T. Humor being introduced and honored at the “New Shooters Clinic.” Below left: A newshooter being taught proper stance at the clinic.Southern California awarded a grantto the oldest SASS club in the world,The Cowboys, in Norco, Calif. TheCowboys received a grant for supportof their “New Shooters Clinic,” a freeto the public introduction to firearms,safe handling, and the sport of CowboyAction Shooting. The clinic is opento anyone interested in the sport,and focuses on safe gun handling andemphasizes youth participation. As weall know, the future of shooting sportsrests with our youth.With 25-40 shooters at the clinicseach month, a lot of ammunition isexpended. Shooters do not pay for theclinic or the ammunition used—thiscost has been borne by the club andits members in the past. Each shooterfires about 70 pistol, rifle, and shotgunrounds during the clinic, so the clubgoes through over 1,600 cartridgerounds and 450 shotgun roundseach month. Safety is paramountthroughout and each class has at leastone NRA certified range safety officer.Early this year The NRAFoundation grant was instrumentalin allowing one special member toenjoy our sport by allowing the club toprovide special ammunition enablinghim to participate.T. Humorstone is his name and heis a gun toten’ bad hombre. Now T.Traditions Quarter 3: 2008

Grant SpotlightBrazos ValleySkeet & Trap ClubBrian, TexasOn April 29th, Brazos County4-H Sportsman’s Clubreceived a 25,000 grantfrom The NRA Foundation in supportof the Charlie G. Coble EducationalPavilion. “We are very excitedabout this funding,” said PresidentMike Gentry, “and pleased that theNRA is making an investment inour community and our youth in aprogram that promotes firearms, safety,discipline, competition and the joys ofshooting sports.”The NRA Foundation generatesfunds through Friends of NRA, agrassroots, community-minded programsupported by gun owners, sportsmenand NRA friends that conductbanquets and other fundraisingactivities. The NRA Foundation hasawarded more than 15,000 grantsnationally with 2.2 million in fundssupporting charitable programs inSouth Texas.The NRA Foundation is anonprofit arm of the National RifleAssociation and is dedicate

Traditions is published quarterly by The NRA Foundation, Inc., for the benefit of its donors and other interested parties. 11250 Waples Mill Road Fairfax, VA 22030 (800) 423-6894 www.nrafoundation.org