This is the magic that happens when Winchester Ammunition and Ronald McDonald House Charities combine their fundraising knowledge: Kids & Clays Foundation. In 1999, Glenn and Kathy Lubeznik, owners of an Indiana McDonald’s restaurant, decided to spearhead a sporting clays tournament with the help of Winchester Ammunition. This event hosted 137 shooters and raised $16,000. The success of this first fundraising event was the catalyst for the eventual formation of the Kids & Clays Foundation. This year Winchester, along with Kids & Clays, will be hosting more than 20 fundraising sporting clays tournaments. Since the inaugural event in 1999, the combined efforts have raised more than $14 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities. One hundred percent of the funds raised goes directly to help support the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities by creating innovative programs that target the needs of children and families in your community and abroad.
Doug Jeanneret, executive director of Kids & Clays says, “Winchester plays a large part every night when thousands of families benefit from the Kids & Clays program by receiving housing, food and other benefits from the houses.” As one of the founding sponsors of Kids & Clays, Winchester has been instrumental in getting this program off the ground by providing all of the ammunition used during these events, saving thousands for the charity.
According to Brett Flaugher, vice president of marketing, sales and strategy at Winchester Ammunition, “…There may be no greater cause than helping families faced with the challenge of caring for a sick child, and Winchester is proud of our long-standing relationship with Kids & Clays in supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities and the incredible services they provide.”
This year for Winchester’s 150th anniversary, a special donation of one Winchester 1866 Yellow Boy firearm will be auctioned on Gunbroker starting October 9, 2016. This beautiful firearm is one of only 10 made. All of the proceeds will go to the Kids & Clays Foundation. For more information on upcoming Kids & Clays events visit their website, http://www.kidsandclays.com. To learn more about the history of Winchester, visit their website at http://www.winchester.com.
