Industry Generosity: Companies Give Back

by
posted on December 19, 2013
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
gsagi2015_fs.jpg

It’s the holiday season, that time of year when the odds greatly increase that an anti-gun party crasher using a drink in each hand for balance will stagger you into a corner for a debate. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being polite. This year I’m firing back, with some solid information on the charitable work done by the shooting industry during 2013.

Hornady just made a donation in excess of $38,000 to the GRACE Foundation, which is dedicated to helping cancer patients, their families and the survivors. If the drunk doesn’t care about health care, bring up public safety-including theirs. Lewis Machine & Tool Company donated $5,350 to the National Tactical Officers Association.

Then, of course, the industry always takes care of those in uniform. Earlier this year Glock gave $100,000 to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Pease Greeters, an organization that welcomes servicemen and women passing through Pease International Airport, received $25,000 from SIG Sauer. Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) received $50,000 from Smith & Wesson.

Yamaha Outdoors donated a fully rigged Rhino as a grand prize in a drawing that raised money for HAVA and Feed the Children. Rocky Brands donated more than $100,000 to Give Breast Cancer the Boot.

That’s a short list, one even dead voters in Chicago can appreciate. I deliberately left out all the firearm-related donations.

Then there are those small things that go on all the time, with little or absolutely no fanfare. It’s just the right thing to do.

I was contacted by someone in the Army (name withheld) to ascertain if I knew anyone in the industry who would donate hats and ammo to a special hunt for wounded SOCOM soldiers. No photos, no interviews and, as you may have noticed, no details could be released. I’m not releasing anything (because these guys could hunt me down and hurt me), except for the fact Federal Premium stepped up to the plate with the requested gear. That’s about all the publicity the company can expect, and it knew so before sending the gear. How awesome is that?

And, in the 10 years I worked at NRA headquarters there was always a Toys for Tots donation box in the lobby in December. I’m not at my desk this year, but the box was-as I’m certain similar, small and from-the-heart programs are in every single firearms-related company in the nation.

Latest

Christensen Evoke 01
Christensen Evoke 01

New For 2025: Christensen Arms Evoke In .375 H&H & .450 Bushmaster

The Christensen Arms Evoke is an affordable, bolt-action rifle platform that is now chambered for two unique big-game chamberings.

Preview: Thacha L-1 Lightweight Hooded Pullover

Thacha’s three distinct clothing lines allow sportsmen to adapt their apparel to the environment in which they will be hunting, and the L-1 Lightweight Hooded Pullover serves as the outermost component in the company’s L-1 warm-weather layering system.

Gun Of The Week: Wilson Combat Division 77 Project 1

Join American Rifleman staff on the range in this video to get a closer look at Wilson Combat’s somewhat cryptically named “Division 77 Project 1.” 

The Armed Citizen® July 18, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: POF-USA LMR BASE Rifle

The Patriot Ordnance Factory LMR Base offers a .308 Win. chambering in a lightweight, AR-15-size package, which makes it a capable platform for today's new gun owner. And it comes at a fair price.

2025 Accessory Of The Year: Wyoming Sight Drifter

For each of the past 23 years, the editors of American Rifleman have convened to select our top picks for the past year’s best and most innovative products. Here are the most recent winners.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.