Morning Call Article: https://www.mcall.com/sports/outdoors/mc-sporting-clay-fundraiser-outdoors-20160926-story.html
When Melanie Totenbier discovered Hounds on Working Leashes (HOWL), she knew it was a nonprofit she wanted to rally behind because it provides ballistics vests to help protect emergency service dogs. Another passion of hers since her mother's diagnosis with breast cancer has been promoting awareness of the disease, so she was went in search of a way she could support both causes with one event.
A member of the local chapter of A Girl & A Gun Women's Shooting League, the South Whitehall Township resident three years ago launched the Breasts & Vests Sporting Clays Tournament, a fundraiser for both HOWL and Casting for Recovery, the national nonprofit that offers fly fishing retreats for breast cancer survivors. Along the way, she became part of a growing trend in the region of outdoors-focused groups, nonprofits and others holding sporting clays shoots to raise money to support their mission and their cause.
During its first two years, Breasts & Vests generated nearly $6,000 for Casting for Recovery and HOWL. In addition to money collected from the shooter entry fees, there are raffles and auctions, as well as soliciting sponsorships for the event. Last year the shoot attracted nearly 50 participants and Totenbier is hoping for even more during the third annual event, set for Nov. 12 at Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays.
"It takes $20,000 to train an [emergency services] dog, and sometimes they don't have money to buy them the vest," says Totenbier. "I loved what HOWL is about, so I thought we should raise money to help support them."
Often referred to as one of the fastest growing sports in the nation, sporting clays continues to soar in popularity. A 2010 report released by National Shooting Sports Foundation estimated that more than 4.2 million people of all ages enjoy the pursuit, and Totenbier says the number of sporting clays fundraisers in this region has really taken off in recent years.
"It's something outside of the box that most people don't do …," she says. "Plus, Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays is amazing — it's just a great day out — and if you've never shot before that's OK because it's a fundraiser [and not a competition]."
Lori Strohl, events manager at Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays, agrees that the number of groups holding sporting clays fundraisers has grown substantially in recent years. In 2015, her facility hosted close to 300 events, with about one-third of them fundraisers.
"What I hear is that people are tired of doing the golf thing so they are turning to something different and sporting clays is a fun thing to do," Strohl says.
Located in North Whitehall Township on the site of a former limestone quarry, Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays features clay shooting courses for beginning, intermediate and advance shooters. The facility offers unique shooting stations that take advantage of the property's landscape, including the opportunity to shoot through the windows of an old building and over the quarry on the site.
For any organization that is looking to start a sporting clays fundraiser, Strohl says the first thing to consider is what the ultimate goals and objectives of the event are.
"First of all, we have to figure out how many people you expect, what your goals are as far as what you want to make [financially] … and we try and make it work for you," she says.
In addition to its world-class shooting facilities, Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays also offers all the services and amenities needed to hold any event, including a 200-person conference and event room, audio-visual system and catering services. As far as the actual shooting, the staff can also equip participants with everything they need for a fun-filled day on the course including shells, safety eyewear and even loaner shotguns for those who don't have their own.
"Before every group goes out we do a safety briefing with them," Strohl says. "And for anyone who has not shot before, we do have instructors available to work with them. That just has to be arranged in advance."
The Thirrd Annual Breasts & Vests Sporting Clays Tournament is set for Nov. 12, 8 a.m. Registration fee, which includes continental breakfast, catered lunch, shotgun shells and clay birds, is $140 per shooter by Oct. 1 and $165 day of the event. Registrations can be done by visiting www.girlyandagun.com or contacting Melanie Totenbier at 267-210-7256 or girlyandagun@gmail.com.
Mark Demko is a freelance writer. Contact him at mdemko@ptd.net or follow him on Twitter at @markdemko1.
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