spectr17
02-14-2004, 09:37 AM
NSSF
For Immediate Release
February 13, 2004
For more information contact:
Jodi Valenta (203) 426-1320
NSSF and Paralyzed Veterans of America Sign Formal Agreement
NEWTOWN, Conn. - The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) announced today that an official agreement has been signed with Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) to formalize a partnership based on the STEP OUTSIDEŽ program that has existed for over four years. PVA will host national STEP OUTSIDE events throughout the year, comprising various target shooting, hunting, archery and fishing events or activities.
With the help of STEP OUTSIDE, PVA chapters provide the established environment that newcomers need to feel welcome in the outdoor community. Additionally, the PVA hopes to achieve the following goals through the partnership:
To introduce and give individuals with disabilities across the United States the opportunity to participate both recreationally and competitively in traditional outdoor sports;
To recruit and retain new audiences as active participants in the traditional outdoor sports; and
To provide mentoring opportunities for newcomers to traditional outdoor sports.
STEP OUTSIDE is nationally recognized as a premier recruitment and retention program for the outdoors. STEP OUTSIDE will benefit from the network of dedicated volunteers who are members of PVA chapters and who work with people with disabilities to provide mentoring and hands-on experience needed to recruit and retain them as active sport shooters, hunters and anglers.
"Target shooting, archery, hunting and fishing are all fun activities that can be enjoyed by people with disabilities," said Lew Deal of PVA. "Often when people become disabled they think they either can't continue the hobby they've enjoyed or don't think they have opportunities to participate in sports. STEP OUTSIDE events teach them that they can participate in a sport and it helps them enjoy the outdoors and have fun!"
"The NSSF has been proud of its partnership with PVA," said Jodi Valenta, NSSF's director of recruitment and retention. "Recruiting and retaining participants in target shooting and hunting is one of our main goals. The PVA has introduced hundreds of disabled individuals to these activities, and the participants are often hooked for life."
Since its inception five years ago, STEP OUTSIDE has assisted state fish and wildlife agencies, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, hunting clubs and conservation organizations in introducing thousands to traditional outdoor activities, perhaps igniting a passion in them for a lifetime.
NSSF, the shooting sports industry's trade association representing 2,500 members, has a mission of delivering programs and services that measurably advance participation in and understanding of hunting and the shooting sports.To learn more about NSSF, visit www.nssf.org.
The Paralyzed Veterans of America, a veteran's service organization chartered by Congress, has for more than 55 years served the needs of its members, all of whom have catastrophic paralysis caused by spinal cord injury or disease. To learn more about PVA, visit its Web site at http://www.pva.org.
For Immediate Release
February 13, 2004
For more information contact:
Jodi Valenta (203) 426-1320
NSSF and Paralyzed Veterans of America Sign Formal Agreement
NEWTOWN, Conn. - The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) announced today that an official agreement has been signed with Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) to formalize a partnership based on the STEP OUTSIDEŽ program that has existed for over four years. PVA will host national STEP OUTSIDE events throughout the year, comprising various target shooting, hunting, archery and fishing events or activities.
With the help of STEP OUTSIDE, PVA chapters provide the established environment that newcomers need to feel welcome in the outdoor community. Additionally, the PVA hopes to achieve the following goals through the partnership:
To introduce and give individuals with disabilities across the United States the opportunity to participate both recreationally and competitively in traditional outdoor sports;
To recruit and retain new audiences as active participants in the traditional outdoor sports; and
To provide mentoring opportunities for newcomers to traditional outdoor sports.
STEP OUTSIDE is nationally recognized as a premier recruitment and retention program for the outdoors. STEP OUTSIDE will benefit from the network of dedicated volunteers who are members of PVA chapters and who work with people with disabilities to provide mentoring and hands-on experience needed to recruit and retain them as active sport shooters, hunters and anglers.
"Target shooting, archery, hunting and fishing are all fun activities that can be enjoyed by people with disabilities," said Lew Deal of PVA. "Often when people become disabled they think they either can't continue the hobby they've enjoyed or don't think they have opportunities to participate in sports. STEP OUTSIDE events teach them that they can participate in a sport and it helps them enjoy the outdoors and have fun!"
"The NSSF has been proud of its partnership with PVA," said Jodi Valenta, NSSF's director of recruitment and retention. "Recruiting and retaining participants in target shooting and hunting is one of our main goals. The PVA has introduced hundreds of disabled individuals to these activities, and the participants are often hooked for life."
Since its inception five years ago, STEP OUTSIDE has assisted state fish and wildlife agencies, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, hunting clubs and conservation organizations in introducing thousands to traditional outdoor activities, perhaps igniting a passion in them for a lifetime.
NSSF, the shooting sports industry's trade association representing 2,500 members, has a mission of delivering programs and services that measurably advance participation in and understanding of hunting and the shooting sports.To learn more about NSSF, visit www.nssf.org.
The Paralyzed Veterans of America, a veteran's service organization chartered by Congress, has for more than 55 years served the needs of its members, all of whom have catastrophic paralysis caused by spinal cord injury or disease. To learn more about PVA, visit its Web site at http://www.pva.org.