In its first year in Georgia, the Ladies’ Charity Skeet Classic raised more than $24,000 for Athens Area Habitat for Humanity. That’s enough to renovate an entire rental unit to house a formerly homeless veteran, or pay for one-fourth of a newly constructed house.

Women came from 13 states across the country to compete in the National Skeet Shooting Association tourney which moved this year from its former home in Nashville. Events included 12-gauge, 20-gauge, 28-gauge, doubles, and Annie Oakley and Frank Butler shoots comprising skeet, trap, 5-stand, and pistol.

Funds raised by the event are earmarked for Athens Area Habitat’s Kinda Tiny Home project, the first of its kind in Clarke County. These homes will be the first LEED certified environmentally-friendly houses to go on the market in Clarke, and are hopefully paving the way for the introduction of true “tiny homes” and other innovative housing solutions in the area.

Tournament director Tami Daniel-Means oversaw the shoot’s transition from Tennessee to Georgia, and she feels that the event will grow in the coming years. “All the ladies said they had such a great time, and they’ll be bringing friends next year. We’d like to grow it so that we can fund an entire house, that’s the goal, but we’re very proud of what we’ve been able to raise this first year in Georgia.”

Athens Habitat’s outreach director Hannah Mitchell shot her first clay at the tournament’s Introduction to Skeet Shooting event and agreed that the event is a whole lot of fun. “I’d never done anything like that and it was a blast,” says Mitchell. “I’m so glad this is going to be an annual thing and I get to go back. All the people were so wonderful, and so supportive of Habitat’s mission. I think in a few years, once it has time to grow, we’re going to see them funding an entire home.”

Athens Habitat’s marketing director, Paul Farr, agrees that the Ladies’ Charity Skeet Classic and Athens Area Habitat are a great fit. “There were several participants who are already active with Habitat, from as far away as Montana. I was even getting asked about per-square-foot build costs in Georgia. But some others were not familiar with our mission, and once they understood what we do, they were solidly behind us. These are can-do folks, and I think they liked the idea of contributing to a charity whose beneficiaries are then able to pay back what they’ve been given so that others can be helped in the future. It’s all of us working together.”

Tournament participant Suzie Huszai from Ohio even worked with the directors to create a raffle, featuring one of her hand-made quilts in addition to prizes donated by sponsors and other participants, which raised $2,165 in addition to the $22,000 raised by the event.

Sponsors for this year’s Ladies’ Charity Skeet Classic include:

• Alessandro Vitale of Aldo’s Ristorante Italiano, Baltimore, MD
• Arnold Tools
• Georgia Skeet Shooting Association
• Howell Traps
• Matthews Trenching Co.
• National Shooting Sports Foundation
• National Skeet Shooting Association
• SGS Performance Eyewear
• South River Gun Club
• White Flyer Targets
• Zone 4 Skeet Association

 

You can read more about the tournament in the June 2019 issue of Clay Target Nation.