The first Kids & Clays shooting sports event to benefit families in need launched in 1999 with the support of Winchester Ammunition and has grown to be a major fundraiser for participating Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) chapters across the country. To date, more than $36,000,000 has been raised by good people who enjoy the shooting sports and have a heart for children and their families—it is a news story that hasn’t been trumpeted loudly enough.
“Our long-standing commitment—25 years—as a major ammunition supporter to Kids & Clays is extremely important,” said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester Ammunition. “We are proud that our brand of more than 150-years is associated with organizations like Kids & Clays and that we can help further their mission.”
In 1999, Glenn and Kathy Lubeznik, McDonald’s owner/operators in Northwest Indiana, chaired the first annual Sporting Clays Tournament Event benefitting the Chicago Ronald McDonald House®. With the support of Winchester Ammunition, McDonald’s Owner/Operators and McDonald’s Suppliers, the event hosted 137 participants and generated more than $15,000 for the House.
The next year, companies and organizations such as Browning, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) followed Winchester’s lead and agreed to support the event as sponsors. More than 220 participants shot in the Chicago tournament and the Chicago Ronald McDonald House was again the beneficiary, to the tune of over $58,000
The rapid success of the Chicago area tournament inspired Mr. Lubeznik to share his knowledge of this fundraiser with Ronald McDonald Houses across the country. Because of the potential for growth of this program, Mr. Lubeznik formed what is known today as the Kids & Clays Foundation. The Foundation’s goal was to promote shooting tournaments as a unique type of fundraising event for Ronald McDonald Houses across the nation.
Each year, Winchester donates thousands of dollars of ammunition and merchandise to support nearly 50 Kids & Clays events. The local RMHC’s keep 100 percent of the net proceeds from each event. What started as tens of thousands of dollars annually in fundraising has grown exponentially with 2023 setting a record high of nearly $3.6 million all to help critically ill children from coast to coast.
About Kids & Clays
Kids & Clays is an organization that assists Ronald McDonald Houses in coordinating their own shooting sports fundraiser. Kids & Clays solicits contributions of cash and merchandise from generous National Sponsors and Donors that are given to the local houses to help with their fundraising events. Additionally, Kids & Clays provides an event manual that includes instructions for hosting an event and offers on-site support. www.kidsandclays.com
About Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is a global organization focused on keeping families together and near the care they need. The RMHC Mission is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families. They do this through Ronald McDonald Houses where families can stay while their child undergoes treatment, family rooms within hospitals for families to rest and regroup, Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles that provide mobile health services to needy communities and through grants to extend the reach and impact of RMHC. www.rmhc.org
About Winchester Ammunition
Winchester is the largest small caliber ammunition enterprise in the world and the leader in delivering innovative ammunition products to hunters, sport shooters, law enforcement and the U.S. Warfighter. The 158-year-old Winchester brand is built on integrity, hard work and a deep focus on its loyal customers. Learn more about Winchester by visiting Winchester.com or connecting with us on Facebook at Facebook.com/WinchesterOfficial.
Winchester: Committed to Safe, Legal and Responsible Firearm Use
As a global leader in the shooting sports and hunting industry, and a brand of 158 years, Winchester is committed to safe, legal and responsible firearm use. Winchester works with key groups like the National Shooting Sports Foundation on a variety of topics important to our industry, including training and education, and on specific programs such as Gun Owners Care and Project ChildSafe. Winchester will continue to support programs, organizations and individuals who promote hunting and shooting sports activities in a positive and responsible environment. Any use of firearms by youth participants should be done under the direct supervision of a parent, guardian or other responsible adult.
About Gun Owners Care
Gun owners care. You care about safety. You care about preventing unauthorized access to firearms. You care about bettering your community, helping those in need, and conserving wildlife and wild places for generations to come. It’s time for gun owners to tell their stories and to show how they’re making a difference. NSSF®, the trade association for the firearms industry, has established the Gun Owners Care campaign to unite gun owners and the firearms industry in this common cause. Visit gunownerscare.org for more information.
