Sporting Clays for Kids Successful

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame developed its “Sporting Clays for Kids” fundraising event in 2013 initially to raise funds to keep wrestling in the Olympics when our sport was under siege for exclusion from the games.

The outstanding inaugural event raised nearly $74,000 that year. We utilize this model to continue our charitable endeavors for kids, with wrestling as the focus and catalyst for its ongoing success. The sporting clays format attracts many people from diverse groups who are experienced gunmen or novices. While most communities are filled with generally the same types of fund raising events such as golf, car washes, hoagie sales, etc., we have found sporting clays to be our biggest fundraising event and is superior to golf events in several ways.

• First, sporting clays have no skill barrier to entry - anyone can pull a trigger as a participant. Given that only 15% of adults can play golf, clay shoots give you the ability to appeal to your entire base of supporters.
• Second, sporting clays are appealing to people who are interested in trying new things; the event is much less of a struggle than someone having a bad day on the golf course.
• Third, sporting clays are far less costly to sponsor than golf events allowing for a greater opportunity to make money for the charities themselves.
• Fourth, sporting clays take far less time to conduct. Most participants can shoot 100 rounds in about two hours. Golf outings normally take close to five hours to play. This allows people to participate who are unable to commit a whole day to the event.
• Fifth, sporting clays have the potential to appeal to overall wealthier clients and participants. The average clay shooter has a 40% higher income than the average golfer according to several fundraising event planners.

We have raised over $256,000 since 2013, with repeat sponsors stepping up their support nearly every year! Of that, a total of $229,000 has been donated directly to youth related charitable organizations. Our 2020 event had to be canceled because of the COVID-19 restrictions in place in Pennsylvania, or those totals would have been higher.

We hope you are able to join us for the 2021 Sporting Clays for Kids on Saturday, October 2nd.

2021 Sporting Clays for Kids Flyer

Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations