Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Awards Grant to Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors
Wichita, KS, June 30, 2022. Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors was awarded $25,000.00 in a grant from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Torstenson Family Endowment Hunting Heritage Grant Program. These funds will be used to expand the rapidly growing Shooting Sports Outreach Program to engage participants in high school and college shooting sports in hunting activities.
Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors has been engaged in recruiting mentors for at-risk youth since its beginnings in 2002. RMEF was one of the first to step up and help launch the outdoor mentoring efforts of Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors in 2002. Since starting the Shooting Sports Outreach Program in the fall of 2019, Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors has doubled the number of hunts year over year and is expecting to organize over 500 hunts in ‘22, more than double last year's numbers.
Brittany French, Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors Vice President commented, “This program is identifying barriers that youth face when becoming a hunter or angler. Our program is able to break those barriers by providing access, social support and guidance from vetted volunteer mentors. With the generosity from RMEF, we are going to be able to serve more deserving youth in the outdoors!”
“RMEF is pleased to support again this year the tremendous work being completed by Pass It On- Outdoor Mentors” said Blake Henning, RMEF Chief Conservation Officer. “This mentorship program is having tremendous success and we look forward to helping Pass It On expand its work.”
“Our Shooting Sports Outreach Program is exceeding our initial expectations. We now have 2 full-time Program Coordinators in Kansas and 1 full-time Program Coordinator in Iowa, and we expect to grow to more states in the next 18-24 months,” shared Mike Christensen, President of Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors. “None of this would be possible without the strong support we have received from RMEF since the very beginning. When organizations can partner and leverage our expertise, we can make great things happen for kids in the outdoors!”
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Founded 38 years ago, fueled by hunters and a membership of more than 225,000 strong, RMEF has conserved more than 8.4 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Discover why “Hunting Is Conservation™” at www.rmef.org, www.elknetwork.com or 800-CALL ELK.
To learn more about Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, Inc. please visit their website at http://www.outdoormentors.org
