Even bursts of monsoon rains couldn’t stop more than 200 diehard shooters gathered for the 11th Annual Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) Boilermakers Kansas City Sporting Clays Shoot from setting an all-time fundraising record for the USA Shooting Tour.
Hosted by the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, the shoot was held Sept. 21 at Powder Creek Shooting Park in Lenexa, Kansas. Collectively, participants and sponsors raised more than $215,000 to fuel the USA’s mission to unite the union community through conservation to preserve America’s outdoor heritage.
The total eclipsed the previous USA Shooting Tour record of $203,000 set in 2018, also at the Boilermakers Kansas City shoot. In fact, the Boilermakers shoot has broken the USA’s gross fundraising record every year since 2015.
Funds raised from the shoot support the USA’s conservation mission. “Proceeds from the shooting program are critical to funding the mission of the USA,” explained USA CEO and Executive Director Scott Vance. “Money raised at USA shoots funds conservation projects, outreach events, member programs and other vital operations of the organization.”
The Boilermakers shoot has broken the USA’s gross fundraising record every year since 2015.
“When you put out a call for the Boilermakers, they step up,” said International Brotherhood of Boilermakers International President Newton B. Jones. “Conservation and a healthy, sustainable environment are essential to our planet’s survival. As a charter member of the USA and a supporter of their mission, we’re proud that the event brought so many Boilermakers, members of other unions and organizations, and families together.”
“Organized Labor’s support for the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance was evidenced by the great turnout at the USA’s annual Kansas City shoot,” said International Brotherhood of Boilermakers International Secretary-Treasurer William T. Creeden. “We’re determined to surpass our record-breaking fundraising amount year over year for an organization that does so much for America’s communities and families but we couldn’t break records without the help of all of our supporters.”
Launched in 2009, the USA shooting program celebrated its 200th fundraising shoot in November of 2018. USA shooting event attendees enjoy friendly competition and union fellowship while raising funds to support USA-organized efforts including the renovation of public parks, fishing piers and other facilities, wildlife habitat restoration, youth activities and mentorship programs.
The first shots of the USA Shooting Tour were fired at Prince George’s County Trap and Skeet Center in Glenn Dale, Maryland, on June 18, 2009 during the inaugural AFL-CIO Capital Area Sporting Clays Shoot. On October 23rd of that same year, the Boilermakers hosted their first USA shooting event, which has flourished over the years while setting fundraising and participation records in the process.
“As we celebrate the USA’s recent milestones, including the completion of our 200th Work Boots on the Ground (WBG) conservation project, we want to thank the Boilermakers and all of their members for their dedicated support of our cause,” said Vance. “We are grateful for the Boilermakers’ long-standing support as one of our charter unions, and their annual Kansas City shoot is one of our longest running events and continues to break fundraising records.”
