24/7 Travel Stores and Pheasants Forever raised $26,084.18 for kids’ habitat conservation programs through 24/7’s second annual Pheasants Forever fundraiser.
For the second year, the two organizations partnered to introduce more Kansas kids to hunting, wildlife habitat conservation and shooting sports. Throughout the month of November, 24/7 Travel Stores offered all customers the opportunity to make a donation to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever at the register, and also to purchase PF/QF merchandise in-store, a portion of the proceeds from which went to PF and QF. 24/7 Travel Stores are also donating directly to local PF and QF chapters in their communities.
In 2018, over $24,000 was raised for wildlife habitat conservation and hunter recruitment in Kansas. This year’s proceeds increased by over 8%. The McPherson location raised the most at $4,044.79. In addition to McPherson, Maple Hill, Abilene and WaKeeney locations exceeded $3,000 in donations. This year’s proceeds will provide financial support for Pheasants Forever as they work towards their goal of 120,000 Kansas kids participating in their Education and Outreach program by 2023.
President of 24/7 Travel Stores Mark Augustine is excited by the number of hunters who stop in every season. “Pheasant hunting brings a lot of commerce to the State in areas that don’t always get touched during the summer tourist season,” said Augustine. “It is awesome the customers want to give back to programs Pheasant Forever supports in Kansas that continue to make Kansas one of the top destinations for pheasant hunters.“
“Programs like this one, with 24/7 Travel Stores, work to bring important funds in for the organizations’ traditional habitat mission, but also critical programs that create new hunters,” said Brandon Wilmoth, Regional Representative for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in Kansas. “For example, we now have three ‘shooting trailers’ here in Kansas that PF and QF chapters, and other organizations, can use to hold youth shooting events. The trailers travel to fairs, schools, festivals, hunter safety classes, and other outdoor events. The goal is to expose kids to the shooting sports, which can, in turn, lead to creating new hunters.”
