News
For Immediate Release
April 6, 2015
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News
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News
Media Contact: Chris Chaffin
[email protected]
(321) 729-0280 Office
(321) 506-5500 Mobile
IHEAF Launches “Foundation” Membership Drive
Program will build a financial foundation for Hunter Education
Denver, Colo—The International Hunter Education Association Foundation (IHEAF) launched a new “Foundation”
membership drive and membership category, kicking off the important effort earlier this year at the 2015 SHOT
SHOW. The program will raise funds that will support the nationwide work of the International Hunter Education
Association-USA (IHEA-USA) (www.ihea-usa.org).
“Our new “Foundation” membership is designed to do one thing,” said IHEAF President, Chris Chaffin, “it will build
a financial foundation to support the critical hunter education training and hunter/shooter recruitment and
retention so vital to the hunting and shooting sports industry and our outdoor heritage.”
Chaffin explained that IHEAF is a 501(c)(3) organization of hunting and shooting sports industry leaders formed to
help the hunter education program succeed by raising funds to meet operational and future planning, growth
needs and address evolving challenges and demands. “It is vital,” Chaffin emphasized, “that the outdoor industry
and community step up financially to support hunter education. IHEA-USA needs additional funding to continue its
leadership role in providing quality education and training, and, they must have adequate funding to plan for and
develop programs and materials that will meet future needs.”
The new “Foundation” membership is primarily designed for outdoor industry, organizations, agencies, clubs and
other associated groups who know that the 670,000 students who take hunter education classes each year are
vital to the future of hunting, shooting and conservation. The new “Foundation” membership is $2,500 per year
(minimum) with a five-year commitment. “Our goal is to get enough industry supporters to become “Foundation”
members and establish a very solid financial foundation for hunter education for the next five years,” Chaffin
noted.
“Foundation” members will receive special recognition on the IHEA-USA Website, at their annual conference and
in other IHEA-USA and IHEAF outreach, communications and marketing efforts.
National Shooting Sports Foundation President, Steve Sanetti, commented on the importance of hunter education
to the industry, “IHEA-USA’s program of teaching safety and responsibility to new hunters and recreational
shooters is absolutely vital to maintain these activities as the wholesome and safe activities that they have long
been. Our industry simply must support IHEA-USA’s ongoing programs and their ability to meet future needs to
help create new generations of safe shooters and to maintain the strong public acceptance of hunting and the
shooting sports in America.”
Ryan Bronson, Federal Premium Ammunition Director of Conservation noted that “Hunter education has played
such an important role in improving the safety record of hunting, which in turn helps build public support for
hunting among non-hunters and potential hunters. Something so vital for the growth of our sport and industry is
worth investing in, so we at Federal Premium Ammunition are happy to add our support to creating a solid
financial foundation for IHEA-USA and hunter education.”
“A conservation ethic has always been an integral component to the makeup of America’s hunters. Pheasants
Forever and Quail Forever support IHEAF because of the belief that hunter education and conservation always
have been, and always should, be interlinked,” explained Howard K. Vincent, President & Chief Executive Officer of
Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever.
“Our commitment to the IHEA Foundation is a commitment to hunter education, ethical hunting and, more
specifically, to the next generation of hunter-conservationists,” said David Allen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
president and CEO. “It strikes at the core of our mission to ensure the future of elk, elk country and our hunting
heritage.”
Support for this vital initiative has already begun, with notable outdoor companies and organizations becoming
“Foundation” members, including: Hornady Manufacturing Co., Sturm, Ruger & Co., O. F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc.,
Academy Sports + Outdoors, Focus Group/OMNI, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, Federal Premium
Ammunition, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Realtree, and ATI Gunstocks. Still more companies are working
membership through corporate approval processes.
To become part of the foundation that supports hunter education’s critical role in the outdoor community and the
nation’s outdoor heritage, contact IHEAF President, Chris Chaffin at [email protected]; (321)7290280 Office; (321) 506-5500 Mobile.
For more ways to join and support hunter education go to http://www.ihea.com/index.php/iheastore/memberships.
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