AHERO Summer 2021 | Page 52

GROWING TOWARD THE FUTURE

AHERO Receives Bass Pro Shops & Cabelas Outdoor Fund Grant

It was an exciting moment recently when Lee Stuckey discovered that AHERO had been awarded the organization ’ s Outdoor Grant . Libby Glaser of the Bass Pro Shops & Cabelas Outdoor Fund was the one to personally notify him . Here ’ s the followup correspondence between Glaser and Stuckey that details how the grant will enhance the AHERO hunting experience in Shorter , Alabama starting this year :
Hello Mr . Stuckey !
I hope this finds you well . I ’ m reaching out to arrange fulfillment of the Outdoor Fund grant that was awarded to AHERO . As you ’ ll recall from your grant agreement , you were awarded three shooting houses to provide hunting experiences for veterans . I would like to connect you with the closest store to arrange for pick-up and an award presentation . Would the Destin , FL or Spanish Fort , AL store be closest to you ? Or a different store ? Please let me know , and I will connect you with that store to arrange a date for the presentation . Thanks ! Libby Glaser Outdoor Fund Grant Coordinator Inspiring everyone to enjoy , love , and conserve the great outdoors !
Good morning Libby , Thank you for the great news and my local store is the one in Prattville Alabama which is also known to my friends as " my Narnia "... lol I love your stores and probably spend more money there than I do at the grocery store .
I can ' t thank you enough for this grant and know that they will support hundreds of veterans in the near future . We have also named the fields that they are overlooking after veterans who have either been killed in combat ( KIA ), wounded in action ( WIA ), or committing suicide ( RIP ) after losing a battle to PTSD . Each of the shooting houses will be associated with one of these veterans , and I will have pictures of that veteran and stories about that warrior in each . This will allow the veterans enjoying the blind to read about the brave men and women , and also keep their memory and sacrifice alive with us today .
Please extend an invite to your executive team and of course you are also invited to our future AHERO events , so you can see how we are making a positive impact in our veteran and local communities alike .
Have a blessed day and thank you for your generosity and help with our mission to stop veteran suicide ! Semper Fidelis , Lee Stuckey
Veterans Sgt Justin Gaertner WIA and GySgt David Gaertner , brothers , descend their " perch " during a hunt . The Outdoor Fund ' s Grant brings 3 more such structures to AHERO Farm . Photo is courtesy of Tes Jolly .
52 AHERO MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021