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Athlete Endowment


USA Shooting Elite Athlete Endowment Exceeds $1 Million


In the still of Colonel Dennis


Behrens’ mind lies a dream and a vision for USA Shooting and it has everything to do with legacy. Building it is one thing, but main- taining it requires a whole differ- ent set of intangibles. He’s watched the USA Shoot-


ing program continue to grow and evolve and he’s fi gured out a way to ensure the future is bright for America’s Shooting Team.


ker Club was born at a time when USAS was in a tight fi nancial po- sition, but in immediate need to replace the bunker trap ma- chines at the International Shot- gun Range in Colorado Springs. The machines cost $200,000 and the Bunker Club members came together to successfully help complete the project. With that success, Bunker Club members then decided to


The Bunker Club has become a family affair with 11 couple members,


seven father and


son contributors, and two fami- lies that include father, mother, daughter, son and grandson members.


Additionally, three


members have already put the USAS Athletes Endowment in their wills and the Club is in the process of developing a Heritage Society for those including USAS


awarding athletes with grants to help cover training and compe- tition expenses using only the Endowments income and capital appreciation in order to preserve the endowment principle. “The goal is to build a strong foundation of USA Shooting ath- letes by assisting aspiring and talented competitive shooters and to help them develop their shooting skills in order to be- come high-level competitors and Olympians,” acknowledged Beh- rens. “Special emphasis is also being given to bolster our junior shooters in their development.” With 100 percent of the mon-


One of the top high-power ri-


fl e shooters in his time during the beginning of the U.S. Air Force’s Marksmanship School following the Korean War, Behrens’ heart has never strayed from his roots and his compassion for the USA Shooting Team has begun to bear signifi cant fruit.


Recognizing the need for USA Shooting to build its own base of fi nancial support,


Behrens


(pictured) began the Athlete En- dowment Fund in 2009. What began as a small inner circle of Behrens’ hunting buddies has now blossomed into very loyal and dedicated group. The Bun-


12


make a long-term commitment to USA Shooting athletes.


The


name, which came from replac- ing the bunker trap machines, stuck, but the mission changed to funding an endowment for all USAS shooting disciplines and now includes 82 members. Membership in the Bunker Club requires a minimum donation of $3,000 per person with 100 percent of donations going into the Endowment.


Donations and support of the


Bunker Club has now grown to $1.2 million with many members contributing far more to the fu- ture of USA Shooting.


USA Shooting News | March 2014


in their estate planning. In ad- dition, the Club now has fi ve Foundations supporting the ef- fort with an additional one set to come to the aid of the Club in the future.


“The Bunker Club is encour- aging a family legacy,” said Beh- rens. “It is an excellent opportu- nity for a person’s donation to help USA Shooting forever. Do- nations can be made over time for any of those with a desire to make a lifetime difference.” The initial goal of the Athlete


Endowment Fund was to raise $1.5 million by either 2015 or 2016, and at that point start


ey going directly into the pockets of USA Shooting athletes, the Athlete Endowment Fund is un- like any other program available within USA Shooting. The plan is to pay out fi ve percent of the endowment yearly to individual athletes, equaling $75,000 an- nually with the Endowment at $1.5 million. The goal from the beginning was a lofty one indeed, but one the passionate Colonel won’t let go of anytime soon. “We are in this fi ght for the long haul with the confi dence to know that it will benefi t our ath- letes forever,” Behrens surmised. “We hope to get more people in- volved, including our own shoot- ing community, as they become aware of the program and the long term benefi ts for our ath- letes. We invite all to help reach us reach this most important goal. The future success of the USA Shooting Team depends on it.”


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