Thanks John! We really appreciate everyone that came out and endured the heat to shoot with us, and opened up their hearts (and wallets) to support a most worthy cause.
I talked to Rusty (our treasurer) this morning, and although he hasn't done the final number crunching, it looks like we'll be able to write a check for around $5,000 to the Catch-A-Dream foundation.
I don't know what the final number was on attendance, but I think there was less than 200 shooters--and if you shot in three classes, you counted as three shooters. I'll try to find out more. Point is, even in the "poorest state in the Union", we have people with big hearts that are more than willing to give!
Another thing to mention--at 41 years young, I'm the youngest board member. The average age is probably pushing 60. Guess who does 99% of the work? We has some great folks yesterday who volunteered to help pull targets and made that job MUCH easier and faster, but there's a huge amount of work that goes into this tournament and these guys really put their backs into it along with their heart. One is a recovering cancer survivor. One has serious problems with his neck vertebrae. I think another has had heart trouble. Another was in a serious accident a year or so ago that dang near killed him. Still, they make it work, and we are very thankful for them. One of them, Rusty Wright, is one that donated the bow he won back to the CAD to raise another $475!
I have to give kudo's to "The Alabama Crowd". This group comes every year and really represents! If not for them, our auctions wouldn't be nearly so lively! Last year one of them bought two left-over Vidalia onions for $19. This year, two onions went for $25!! John helped out in representing for AL too, along with Jim Gainey's donation of one of his Black Creek bows--many thanks! Can't forget Eric and Glenda Krewson, also from AL--one lucky bidder got a steal when he bought the BEAUTIFUL selfbow Eric donated (which came with one of Glenda's beautiful hand-made bow socks).
We had some new club members this year--all related, I think?--and they spent a LOT on the auctions just themselves! I won't post an amount, but I will say it made a big difference in the amount the CAD will recieve!
Most of the money raised came from donations--from the three bows to donations from companys like BCY and Lancaster Archery, but mainly from individuals. It took two auctions to sell it all!
Finally, our karaokee singers. I'm sorry I can't remember your names right now (husband and wife duo), but they were AMAZING!! She could sing anything, but my favorites were Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks songs--you honestly couldn't tell the difference! They got $180+ in their donation jar, and gave every dime back to the CAD.
Some items were a real bargain, but many obviously brought more than the could have been purchased for. Some items were one of a kind. All were donated from the heart.
We'll try to get the word out better next year, and hopefully we'll have double the attendance or more. It's a great time, and a great cause.
Chad
Topic: Mississippi Heros (Read 323 times)
