USSA Foundation (USSAF) and Weatherby Foundation International have awarded 16 grants to state wildlife agencies and other associated organizations to fund outdoor expositions held across the country.
Expos are large scale events, which promote outdoor activities such as shooting, fishing, hunting and trapping for youth and their families.
“We are pleased to be able to award grants for these very important events, which help promote an outdoor lifestyle,” said Frank Price, USSA director of education. “This is not possible without the support of our great partners at the Weatherby Foundation. We have to continue to reach more individuals to keep our hunting heritage alive and outdoor expos are a great way to do just that.”
A memorandum of understanding was signed between USSA Foundation and Weatherby Foundation International in 2012 to expand the grant program through the Trailblazer Adventure Program. Trailblazer was created by USSAF in 2001 to introduce youth and their families to an outdoor lifestyle. To date, Trailblazer has held nearly 900 events with more than 1.7 million participants across all 50 states.
“These grants result in more youth learning about the outdoors in a favorable and impressionable manner.” said Alan Sackman, Weatherby Foundation International president. “Keeping our hunting heritage alive depends on expos such as these and we couldn’t be more pleased to award 16 grants to aid in that effort.”
The purpose of the USSA Foundation and Weatherby International Trailblazer Outdoor Exposition and Hunter Mentor Grants is to provide financial, organizational and planning support to groups hosting outdoor expositions. Also, the grants provide funds for projects and programs that give mentors, coaches and introductory mentoring opportunities to families and youth wanting to participate in hunting and shooting sports.
As a result of the program and with the help of matching grants, 200,000 youth and families will have the opportunity to participate in outdoor expos this year.
