NEWSLINE STORY

published November – December 2016

 

Support Your NHPF – Fundraising Suggestions

by Ron Deckard, NHPF Board Member

 

The National Horseshoe Pitchers Foundation (NHPF) needs our charitable donations and support to keep up with the annual maintenance of the NHPA Hall of Fame building and museum in Wentzville, Missouri. The NHPF must maintain the HOF building to the contracted standards designated within the lease with the St. Charles County Parks Department. The Quail Ridge Horseshoe Club just happens to lease the facility and we are extremely fortunate to have them as the official caretaker of the facility.

 

The QRHC representatives open the building a minimum of 4 days per week, operate the concession, and conduct league and tournament events on a regular basis. The dedication of the facility was in 2007 and is now 9 years old so considerable maintenance is necessary for general upkeep and enhancement. Estimates are being obtained to replace or repair the exterior siding, which will be a huge expense.

 

Some clubs in the state charters already have benefit tournaments to raise money for worthy charitable organizations such as Toys for Tots, Junior Scholarships, Veterans Organizations, etc. I submit to you that our own NHPF is a worthy charitable organization also.  

 

The NHPF is totally dependent on charitable donations to maintain the world-class climate controlled NHPA Hall of Fame Museum & building with 16 indoor horseshoe courts, concessions, and bathrooms for all the NHPA members use. The NHPF also issues grants to horseshoe clubs in need of resources to maintain and/or improve their horseshoe pitching facility, currently limited to 6 grants per year for a maximum of $3000 each. In 2015, the NHPF issued a total of $15000 in grants. Without the grant money some of these clubs would most likely become deactivated. This is a large annual expense that the NHPF is committed to in support of our sport. 

 

Therefore, all the state charters are encouraged to do some sort of fundraiser at least once a year to benefit your NHPA Hall of Fame Museum & facility. It is your building; it belongs to all the NHPA members.

 

Here are some suggestions for fundraising to get more of the NHPA members contributing to the NHPF:

1. The State Charter Associations should consider an annual donation to the NHPF from their general fund.

2. Have one or more clubs in each state hold an annual sanctioned tournament benefiting the NHPF.   A portion or the entire entry fee can be donated, plus additional money may also be added from the club general fund, a 50/50 raffle, from concession sales, and or other donations.

 

For example:

Jerry Gorton of Eugene, Oregon has an annual NHPF Benefit Open tournament where the entire entry fee ($15 I believe), plus additional donations from the club, 50/50 raffle, concession sales, and or individuals.  In May of 2016, this club donated $1000 to the NHPF from this tournament event. Over the past several years this horseshoe tournament event has donated a total of $13,000 to the NHPF. Jerry Gorton received a well-deserved award at the 2016 NHPA Awards Banquet.

 

In Florida, the Clearwater Horseshoe Club will be having an annual NHPF Fund raising tournament in February with the tournament entry fee being $25, where $5 of each entry will be donated to the NHPF.  The February 2016 tournament received great support from the NHPA members with 82 players competing, which raised $410. The Clearwater Horseshoe Club added additional money to make the donation $500 to the NHPF. Most all of the remaining entry fee was returned in prize money plus we had tournament co-sponsors that added $700 to the prize money, so the following cash prizes were paid out in a seven player class 1st=$70, 2nd=$50, 3rd=$35, and 4th=$25. Therefore, there is plenty of motivation for players to attend the tournament. Prize money is the same for each of the 7 player classes. We limit the entries to 84 players so players need to pre-register no later than Wednesday before the event.

 

In May 2016, Jim & Debbie Scully of the Central Connecticut Horseshoe Club donated over $500 to the NHPF from their fundraiser.

 

This is just three of the recent donations from clubs to provide fund raising examples and suggestions and is not meant to exclude the other state charters, local clubs, and individuals that are loyal contributors to the NHPF.

 

We hope your state charter and local clubs will meet the challenge and hold your own annual NHPF fund raising event in support of the NHPA Hall of Fame & Museum. All members are encouraged to visit the NHPA HOF Museum located in Wentzville, Missouri. It is a first class professionally done museum that you will be very proud of. Remember, it is your building; it belongs to all the NHPA members.