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CT. Bowhunters top the 1/4 million dollar mark and for two straight years in a row are the top contributor to the St. Jude's Children's Cancer Research Hospital

Hear our record breaking donation as it was broadcast live on the top CT. Radio Station (3/15/2001) REQUIRED TO HEAR BROADCAST CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

Visit our Benefit Fundraising Page where you can bid on some great items, or make a donation

Our results from last year

On Wednesday, March 14 we announced our pledge of $50,000 to the St. Jude's Children's Cancer Research Hospital. The Fundraiser is held annually in Connecticut and is broadcast live on both radio and television. Through the efforts of Mike Roberts of the UBC, bowhunters were again the top contributor for the second straight year.

But this wouldn't have happened were it not for the good hearted people who visit the Bowsite and Stickbow websites. Based on what has been donated so far, we have pledged $15,000 towards to the UBC and St. Judes. But we're not through yet and we need your help. We need to live up to our pledge and hopefully surpass it. Please consider clicking here to make a modest monetary donation to our benefit.

It is acts like these that provide positive, lasting impressions in the minds of the non-hunting public. But it has also helped us with our legislature and game Commission here in CT as was recognized by our chief biologist in a speech made recently. Community involvement is important in reaching outside our normal circles of sportsmen and out to those who would ultimately decide our fate.

How to Start a Similar Program

After last year's results we had many inquiries by clubs and organizations wishing to start a similar program. It is actually very simple and can be done with a minimal amount of effort - but a huge payout in both humanitarian efforts and positive public relations.

What You need:

A Charity - we chose the St. Jude's children's Research Hospital but it can be any well-recognized charity. It helps to choose one that has an annual fundraising drive on a major radio/TV station in your state. This helps generate additional publicity for the event, it gets people excited and allows your donators to see and/or hear the benefit.

A Sponsor Organization - you're state's bowhunting organization is a perfect sponsor for such an event. They typically have the communications channels in place to promote the shoot(s) and a member base to perform the volunteer work. But clubs and businesses can also sponsor the fundraiser as well. The important thing is to have one major contributor as opposed to lots of little one. Put your ego aside and work for the common good of all bowhunters - one $25,000 donation gets more attention than ten $5,000 donations.

A Coordinator - Someone has to own the program. In our case in CT that person is Mike Roberts. He communicates with the clubs, helps to promote the events, gets a sense for how much money will be coming in, and makes the public pledge on behalf of the organization.

Fundraising Events - The shoots are where most of the money comes from. In our case we have special shoots set aside just for St. Jude's. By working directly with individual clubs and aggregating the money, the grand total is much more impressive. We simply ask the shooters to go out and solicit sponsors at a buck a point (or whatever they can afford) and based on the score the donator owes that much in cash. The clubs collect all the money then write a check out to the UBC. Other businesses have gotten involved like Bowsite.com with their auction, and some archery shops and businesses soliciting money directly or by holding dinners, fundraisers, etc.

The reality is that the United Bowhunters of CT Benefit never started out with public relations in mind. It started as a sincere desire to help children and it continues this way today. One listen to Mike Roberts' heartfelt speech on the radio should be obvious to anyone. But the peripheral benefits to our sport are obvious and the dividends it has paid have been enormous to us. The United Bowhunters of CT boast a whopping 10% of all licensed bowhunters as members - the top percentage in the country. Please consider this for your state.

If anyone would like to contact Mike Roberts for details, please e-mail him at [email protected]