Rifle raffle gaining lots of attention
Updated: March 15, 2013
ATWOOD -- The town's little league program has people fired up over a new fundraiser. It's raffling off a rifle to help more than a dozen teams play ball.
Organizers tried the traditional fundraisers in the past including a hog roast and raffling off donated gift cards. But after only generating only $10 last year, they felt they had to try something new.
"It's got a full rail system, comes with a 30 round magazine," said Bryan Butcher, co-owner of Atwood Armory.
He's talking about the AR-15. It's the prized possession on the shelf at his gun shop. And it's on the brink of taking the town's little league program to new heights.
"We could have went with a basic shotgun or something simple," said league commissioner Steven McClain. "But obviously it's not going to draw the attention, not going to draw the volume we're hoping to make."
"If we were to sell that gun in store with all the accessories and ammo with it, it would be well over $2,000," said co-owner Charidy Butcher.
The shop is also raffling off an AR-15 for the Camden Foundation, a local organization that helps families whose kids suffer from cancer. And in just two months, it's already raised more than $7,000.
"Past fundraisers we've done were the Douglas County Animal Shelter, American Cancer Society. We recently raised $2,700 for the Wounded Warriors Project."
Helping the struggling baseball program seemed like a no-brainer. The armory sponsors a team and knows the need for money was great.
"All that money collectively goes towards paying for shirts, hats, gloves, field maintenance, umpires."
But not all leagues would do a gun raffle. One Champaign County league felt the idea was too insensitive, especially after the tragic shooting last year at sandy hook.
"I have three kids myself. I completely feel for everybody that's been touched by these tragedies," said McClain.
"It was never a political agenda. It is what it is. We picked the rifle that would sell the most to raise the most for these organizations," said Butcher.
Whoever wins the raffle must have a FOID card, fill out all the proper paper work, and pass a background check. Tickets are sold at the Atwood Armory. It ends June 28.
The raffle benefiting the Camden Foundation ends later this month.
To find out more about both raffles, click here.
Organizers tried the traditional fundraisers in the past including a hog roast and raffling off donated gift cards. But after only generating only $10 last year, they felt they had to try something new.
"It's got a full rail system, comes with a 30 round magazine," said Bryan Butcher, co-owner of Atwood Armory.
He's talking about the AR-15. It's the prized possession on the shelf at his gun shop. And it's on the brink of taking the town's little league program to new heights.
"We could have went with a basic shotgun or something simple," said league commissioner Steven McClain. "But obviously it's not going to draw the attention, not going to draw the volume we're hoping to make."
"If we were to sell that gun in store with all the accessories and ammo with it, it would be well over $2,000," said co-owner Charidy Butcher.
The shop is also raffling off an AR-15 for the Camden Foundation, a local organization that helps families whose kids suffer from cancer. And in just two months, it's already raised more than $7,000.
"Past fundraisers we've done were the Douglas County Animal Shelter, American Cancer Society. We recently raised $2,700 for the Wounded Warriors Project."
Helping the struggling baseball program seemed like a no-brainer. The armory sponsors a team and knows the need for money was great.
"All that money collectively goes towards paying for shirts, hats, gloves, field maintenance, umpires."
But not all leagues would do a gun raffle. One Champaign County league felt the idea was too insensitive, especially after the tragic shooting last year at sandy hook.
"I have three kids myself. I completely feel for everybody that's been touched by these tragedies," said McClain.
"It was never a political agenda. It is what it is. We picked the rifle that would sell the most to raise the most for these organizations," said Butcher.
Whoever wins the raffle must have a FOID card, fill out all the proper paper work, and pass a background check. Tickets are sold at the Atwood Armory. It ends June 28.
The raffle benefiting the Camden Foundation ends later this month.
To find out more about both raffles, click here.
Comments
http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=471102
Call and buy a ticket for $20
Atwood Armory
65 E Cr 1175N Atwood, IL 61913
(217) 578-2767
Berin J.
March 13, 2013 at 7:59 pm
I think this is a great idea to raise money for a kids sports organization. It is being done with all laws and policies being taken into consideration and being observed. Best of luck to the organizations involved!
r k.
March 12, 2013 at 1:03 am
