Accokeek, Maryland– October 2022– In 2015, Benelli USA partnered with Freedom Hunters—a 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to assisting veterans and active military members—to kick off the first Benelli USA Invitational sporting clays event. Ever since, the Benelli Invitational has played a key supporting role in Freedom Hunters’ efforts to provide select active duty and combat veterans, their families, and Gold Star family members with therapeutic and often life-changing outdoor adventures.
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On October 7, 2022, Benelli USA and Freedom Hunters held the 7th Annual Benelli USA Invitational at the Prince George’s Trap and Skeet Center in Glenn Dale, Maryland. The Invitational drew 152 shooters and 57 corporate sponsors who, combined with on-site volunteers and an on-line auction supported by the outdoor enthusiast public, managed to raise $132,000 for this year’s event.
Proceeds from the Benelli Invitational will go towards Freedom Hunters’ ongoing mission to positively impact the lives of current and former military service members and their families, and especially at-risk veterans who are dealing with serious life challenges.
“The Benelli Invitational is one of our most anticipated corporate events,” said Tom DeBolt, Benelli USA General Manager. “Freedom Hunters presents a mission that hits close to home and is one that our organization fully supports. We want to thank all the volunteers who helped make this year’s event a resounding success and to thank the public and the many corporate sponsors involved who are equally dedicated to improving the lives of those who have given so much for all of us.”
Shooting participants divided into teams for the event, with Team Nielsen taking the top slot with a score of 268. The high overall shooter for the day was Andrew Napier with a score of 74. Following the day’s competition, Benelli USA’s Tom DeBolt (General Manager), Tim Joseph (VP of Brand Marketing & Product), Laurie Gardiner (Digital Marketing Manager), and Gretchen Helm (Finance Controller) presented to Freedom Hunters Founder and CEO Anthony Pace a check for $132,000.
“The generous giving of time and financial support by everyone involved in this year’s Benelli Invitational is humbling,” said Freedom Hunters’ Anthony Pace. “As members of the organization, we work every day in our goal of supporting veterans and their families, and to achieve maximum efficiency with every dollar we receive. The ability to work shoulder-to-shoulder with corporate sponsors on events like this and to see the enthusiasm and dedication that everyone, including online auction participants, put into manifesting our behind-the-scenes work is edifying in the extreme. The veterans and family members who directly benefit from these works are especially appreciative because sometimes it literally saves lives.”
Thank you to our 2022 Benelli USA Invitational Sponsors
Title Sponsors
·Federal Premium Ammunition
·Habitat Flats
·Honey Brake
·Steiner
Gold Sponsors
·Rolling Thunder Game Calls
·Benelli USA
·Burris
·Core Line Marketing
·Vincent Pestilli & Associates
·Owen J. Brown & Associates
·Covey Sales & Marketing
·Bentley-Scott Marketing
Silver Sponsors
·Franchi
·Osceola Outfitters
·Decked
·Mickey Thompson Tires
·Hornady
·Black Rain Ordnance
·Tetra
·LWRCI
·QuietKat
·Maverick Outfitters
·Green Top Hunt & Fish
Bronze Sponsors
·Stoeger Industries
·Duck Commanders
·Lucky Duck
·Springfield Armory
·Vortex
·Brantley Gilbert
·Banded
·Kershaw Knives
·Treager Grills
·GatR
·Jargon Calls
·Jack Daniels
·MEAT!
·Napa Valley Olive Oil
·Resistol
·AAB Beef
·Thorogood Boots
·FlaskKap
·Oakley
·DemerBox
·Bass Pro Shops
·SEVR Broadheads
·GSM Outdoors
·Rock River Arms
·Bear & Sons Cutlery
·Sig Sauer
·Roth Concept Innovations
·Cobra Tech Knives
·True Timber
·High’s / Carroll Fuel
·Tide Water Inn
·Bushnell
·Buck Knives
·Blackhawk
·Action Target
·Yeti
·Big Al’s Decoys
·Norma Ammo
·BPI Outdoors
·Realtree
·Chuck Gittings
·John DePalma
·Gray Loon
·James Clemons
To learn how you can support Freedom Hunters, visit FreedomHunters.org.
For more information about Benelli’s premium shotguns and centerfire hunting rifles, visit BenelliUSA.com.
About Benelli
Benelli, headquartered in Accokeek, Maryland, offers the largest selection of semi-automatic shotguns in the world, as well as a variety of rifles. Since the company’s inception, Benelli has led the world in innovative firearm technology, including the ground-breaking Benelli Inertia Driven system, effective Comfort Tech recoil-reduction systems, and the BE.S.T. anti-corrosion coatings. Because of this commitment to innovation, they are recognized as the world’s leading manufacturer of premium firearms for competitive shooters, hunters, and defense professionals.
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