For
more information, contact: Jonathan Harling or Allison Kotowski,
803-637-3106.
February 24, 2005
Bass
Pro Shops Receives NWTF’s Corporate Achievement Award
Each year the National Wild Turkey Federation honors a corporate partner that has been outstanding in their efforts to promote wild turkey conservation and hunting.
The 2005 NWTF Corporate Achievement Award winner is Bass Pro Shops.
“The people at Bass Pro Shops are always asking us, ‘What can we do to
help?’ They have been a great partner by supporting America’s hunting
heritage and conservation legacy, and the NWTF,” said Rob Keck, NWTF CEO.
“With partners such as Bass Pro Shops and with the caliber of volunteers we
have involved with the NWTF, we are sure to continue doing big things for
our conservation and hunting heritage.”
One of the many things Bass Pro Shops has done to support the NWTF is
donate $1.1 million to the NWTF’s Building Fund to help pay for the
organization’s recent expansion. Bass Pro Shops’ founder, Johnny Morris,
presented the donation during the NWTF’s leadership meeting in Edgefield,
S.C., this past July.
Committed to inspiring people to enjoy and conserve the great outdoors,
Bass Pro Shops has been a long time supporter of the NWTF and its outreach
programs.
Together, Wheelin’ Sportsmen NWTF and Bass Pro Shops have reached out to
people with disabilities by offering hands-on outdoor activities and
seminars during Fun and Learn Days held at Bass Pro Shops stores nationwide.
Bass Pro Shops opened their doors to people with disabilities for Wheelin’
Sportsmen events in Houston, Philadelphia, Nashville, Charlotte, Orlando and
Gurnee, Ill. Bass Pro Shops also supports the NWTF’s Women in the Outdoors
and JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge Ethics and Sportsmanship) programs.
Morris invited NWTF CEO Rob Keck to be a Grand Marshal at the NASCAR
Nextel Cup Bass Pro Shops/MBNA 500 NASCAR race in Atlanta last October. By
being the Grand Marshal of the race, Keck had the opportunity to promote
conservation and our hunting heritage before millions of people on national
television. For the same race, Morris donated sponsorship space to feature
the flying NWTF turkey logo on the #33 race car, which created further
awareness of wild turkey conservation and built a greater sense of pride for
all the hard-working NWTF volunteers.
The NWTF presented Bass Pro Shops with the Corporate Achievement Award
during the 29th Annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tenn.,
Feb. 18 - 20.
“We are proud to partner with NWTF in the very important
work they do in conservation, youth education, getting women involved in the
outdoors, and helping hunters with special needs”, stated Bass Pro Shops
President Jim Hagale. “The passionate commitment of NWTF members and
volunteers is a great example for all of us who love the outdoors. We are
flattered by this special recognition.”
The original Bass
Pro Shops store is located in Springfield, Missouri. The 33-year-old
company is an icon in the hunting and fishing industry. Morris started Bass
Pro Shops in1972, and is respected by millions across the nation, including
the NWTF. Today they have twenty-five stores across the United States
selling a variety of outdoor goods to suit any outdoor enthusiast.
For more information about the Corporate Achievement Award or about the
NWTF, call 1-800-THE-NWTF or visit the website at
www.nwtf.org.
For more information about Bass Pro Shops, visit www.basspro.com.
2005 Convention Sponsors
BASF, Bass
Pro Shops, Browning-USRAC, Club Car, Federal Cartridge, Georgia Forestry
Commission, Henkel Harris Furniture, Leupold & Stevens, The Lodge at Cabin
Bluff, Marlin Firearms/H & R 1871, Mathews, Inc., MBNA, O.F. Mossberg,
Remington Arms Company, T. I. Industries- Frame Moulding, Tennessee NWTF
State Chapter, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee Forestry
Commission, The Outdoor Channel, The Outdoor Connection, USDA-Forest
Service, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, Wild Turkey Bourbon, Winchester
About the NWTF: In 1973, when
the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded, there were an estimated 1.3
million wild turkeys and 1.5 million turkey hunters. Thanks to the work of
wildlife agencies and the NWTF’s many volunteers and partners, today there
are 6.8 million wild turkeys and approximately three million turkey hunters.
Since 1985, more than $193 million NWTF and cooperator dollars have been
spent on over 29,000 projects benefiting wild turkeys throughout North
America.
The NWTF is a nonprofit organization with nearly 525,000 members in 50
states and 12 foreign countries. It supports scientific wildlife management
on public, private and corporate lands as well as wild turkey hunting as a
traditional North American sport.
For more information on the National Wild Turkey Federation, call (803)
637-3106; check out our Web site at www.nwtf.org or e-mail questions to
nwtf@nwtf.net.