The third annual Benelli USA Invitational Shoot drew 152 shooters from within the outdoor industry and across the region to raise more than $55,000 for Freedom Hunters to support outdoor opportunities for active duty personnel and combat veterans.
The event took place Friday at Prince George’s County Trap and Skeet Center in Glenn Dale, Maryland. Attendees included active duty military personnel, veterans, Freedom Hunters participants from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and other shotgunners from the area who competed in a sporting clays shoot. Following the shoot competitors enjoyed lunch and participated in a silent auction and raffle, with proceeds going to Freedom Hunters.
Freedom Hunters is a military outreach program whose mission is to convey the outdoor community’s appreciation for the dedication of and sacrifices made by the men and women of the Armed Forces. Through the support of numerous groups and companies, Freedom Hunters arranges outdoor adventures and opportunities for active duty and combat veterans, as well as the families of fallen heroes and children of those deployed.
Individual high scores for the shoot include High Lady shooter Dorothea Clevenger (score 54) and High Freedom Hunter shooter Sgt. Patrick Kabay (score 57). The team of Brandon Geweke, Marty Geweke, Joe Kukla Sr., and Joe Kukla Jr. won the overall team competition with a combined score of 262.
At the conclusion of the event, Benelli USA Executive Team General Manager Tom DeBolt, Chief Financial Officer Phyllis Blacknall-Jones, and Vice President of Brand Marketing Tim Joseph presented a check for $55,000, raised from monetary donations, silent-auction bids, and the raffle, to Freedom Hunters.
More than 70 companies supported the event through sponsorships, with Sporting Classics among them.
“Benelli USA is proud to partner with Freedom Hunters to take active duty and wounded service members out hunting and fishing,” Debolt said. “We are passionate about the outdoors and understand the importance of giving back to the men and women who serve our country. I’m proud of the effort our team members made this year to raise a record amount of funds to support this worthy cause.”
To learn more about Freedom Hunters, go to freedomhunters.org.