The 7th annual Clays for a Cause sporting clay shoot, presented by St. Johns home builder MasterCraft Builder Group, was held on Dec. 5 at Saltwaters Shooting Club in St. Augustine. It was the largest to date, with over 340 registered participants raising $158,000 for St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS), Seamark Ranch, and American Legion Post 194.
“This year’s event exceeded all of our expectations and then some,” said MasterCraft Builder Group CEO and Founder, Chris Shee. “Not only were we able to increase the amount raised for SAYS and Seamark Ranch, two organizations that change the lives of orphaned children and give them hope for the future, but this year, we were able to raise $25,000 for the American Legion’s Alton Green Memorial Park, which will provide a safe play space for dozens of kids in their Kids Safe Zone program.”
Over the past seven years, Clays for a Cause has raised more than $400,000 for local charities benefiting children and families. St. Augustine Youth Services is a local, nonprofit that helps shape the future of Florida’s at-risk youth by providing coaching, counseling and care in family-style therapeutic group homes and outpatient community services. Seamark Ranch is a faith-based home for children of broken families located in Green Cove Springs and has served over 100 children with its homes, on-campus school, and childcare programs. American Legion Post 194 runs Kids Safe Zone, a program where veterans volunteer their time to help underprivileged and at-risk kids in the community.
“St. Augustine Youth Services relies on the funds raised at each year’s Clays for a Cause for a variety of services that we offer,” said Schuyler Siefker, Executive Director of SAYS. “This year, we are earmarking the money raised to help build an Independent Living Village, transitional housing for youth that ‘age out’ of our program.” Fred Meiners, Executive Director of Seamark Ranch, mirrored the sentiments. “Clays for a Cause helps us house and educate our children,” he said, “which we wouldn’t be able to do without the support of people like Chris and businesses like MasterCraft.”
