The Sauk Valley Friends of NRA is preparing for its 32nd annual banquet, scheduled for October 10th at the Dixon Elks Club. The long-running event brings together supporters for an evening of dinner, games, raffles, auctions, and fundraising, with proceeds helping provide grants to youth programs throughout the region.
Doors will open at 4 p.m., giving attendees time to get settled, enjoy refreshments, and check out the evening’s games, raffles, 50/50 drawing, and silent auction items. Dinner is expected to begin around 5 to 5:30 p.m., with the evening wrapping up around 9 to 9:30 p.m.
The Dixon Elks Club will provide a dinner featuring a salad bar, roast beef, roast turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, and rolls.
Tickets and packages can be purchased online by searching for Sauk Valley Friends of NRA events. Attendees must be 18 or older to enter the event. Dinner-only tickets are available, along with packages that include additional raffle tickets for a variety of prizes.
The banquet also offers table packages for groups. A table package includes a chance for the table to win a firearm, providing an additional incentive for friends and supporters to attend together.
One of the biggest goals of the banquet is to raise money that ultimately makes its way back into local programs. Sauk Valley Friends of NRA is part of the Northern Illinois district, which includes numerous Friends of NRA events throughout the region. Funds raised through these events help support grants for youth shooting sports and other eligible organizations.
The grant program has supported high school trap teams, homeschool programs, religious schools, FFA groups, Boy Scout organizations, and other community programs. Local teams have used grant funding for items such as clay targets, ammunition, and shotguns for students whose families may not be able to provide their own equipment.
The organization also supports programs designed to introduce more people to shooting sports. One example discussed during the episode is a women-only group at Tri County Gun Club, which has received grant funding for ammunition, targets, and other materials used to teach and encourage women interested in shooting sports.
For Dale and Anna, seeing the money raised through the banquet return to local organizations is an important part of the event. The goal is to make sure smaller schools and organizations have an opportunity to access resources that may otherwise be difficult to obtain.
The grant process can be competitive. During the most recent grant cycle discussed on the podcast, dozens of organizations applied for funding, with requests totaling more than $1 million. Approximately $270,000 was ultimately distributed to qualifying groups.
Local trap teams are among the beneficiaries, with several area schools receiving support. The organization also works to share information about the grant program with coaches and community leaders so more eligible groups understand how to apply.
The annual banquet provides an opportunity for supporters to help make those grants possible while enjoying a full evening of activities. Attendees can purchase tickets in advance, with package pricing offering additional value compared with purchasing individual items at the door.
Sauk Valley Friends of NRA is encouraging community members to purchase their tickets early for the October 10 banquet. Early registration allows attendees to take advantage of package discounts, prepare their raffle entries in advance, and, for groups, consider purchasing a table package.
The organization hopes the community will come out to support local youth and the programs that provide students with opportunities to participate in shooting sports.
The 32nd annual Sauk Valley Friends of NRA banquet will be held October 10 at the Dixon Elks Club, with doors opening at 4 p.m. For tickets and additional information, search for Sauk Valley Friends of NRA events online.
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