Nicole McMahon was kind enough to pass along the following, which is about the first Friends of NRA event of 2010:

Central California Field Representative Jason Quick is known throughout the NRA as the “Million Dollar Man” and is well deserving of the title. For the last two years, Quick has raised over $1 million in his area, an area that is not always sympathetic to the NRA’s cause. To thank Friends of NRA sponsors and volunteers for donating their money and time, he started a “sponsor/committee member only” event to recognize their contributions to the program for the previous year.

Although the small, invitation only event is meant to be a thank you, the 88 attendees did not forget they were there to raise money for the future of the shooting sports. The event netted over $35,000, an outstanding number for a relatively small banquet.

“We had four games with four very nice guns as the prizes,” said Robert Anderson, chairman of the Central California State Friends of NRA. “We had the 2010 Standard [Merchandise] Package on display and our live auction contained several unique items like a Cape Buffalo Skull donated by Craig Boddington and a pair of commemorative Winchester Model 94 30/30 rifles. The food was good, the conversation and the merchandise were great and generosity overflowed from everyone.”

Quick also handed out the following awards to his committees:

• Top Three Committees:
  Paso Robles - $100K
  Kern County - $75K+
  King City - $70K+
  
  • Top New Committee: Lemoore - $34,000 
  • Most Improved: Exeter – over 40% increase
  • Best Net to Gross Ratio: Taft – 57.1%

  Anderson sees this event only getting bigger in the future. “Word is getting around to our sponsors and to our committees that this event is a big ‘thank you’ to the people who have supported The NRA Foundation in the previous year,” Anderson said. “The attendees are strong supporters of the cause. They contribute generously throughout the year to support youth education programs, women's shooting activities, range development and all the countless local projects in which their money is invested; programs which further our hunting and sporting heritage, a heritage they wish to nurture and protect.”

  To help support the Central California Friends of NRA, contact Field Representative Jason Quick at (805) 239-4246 or jquick@nrahq.org.