Usually it’s quarterbacks who are thought of as “gunslingers,” not the hoggies who protect them. Matt Light, left tackle for the New England Patriots, is trigger happy and trigger happy for a cause: The Light Foundation, which supports at-risk teens in the Northeast, Light’s native Ohio and the Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana.
On September 14th, the Light Foundation will host its sixth annual Celebrity Shoot-Out at Addieville East Farm in Mapleville, R.I. This year, Light, comedian Lenny Clarke and a handful of other as-yet-unannounced celebrities will shoot clay out of the sky for cash. Ordinary Joes and Janes are also invited and encouraged to sign up early (registration costs $1,000).
The annual event has raised nearly $2 million for the Light Foundation since 2004′s opening salvo. Past participants include Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker and plenty of other former and current Patriots as well as “The World’s Fastest Shooter,” Jerry Miculek and chefs Ming Tsai and Michael Schlow.
This year, as is the case every year, the Shoot-Out after party will include a performance by Martin Sexton.
“In the world of fundraisers, there’s really nothing like it,” Light says of the Shoot-Out. “We do everything we can to make the event special for the guests, and at the end of the day, we’ve done something even more special for these kids.”
In July, Light invited 16 underprivileged youth to Camp Vohokase, a new 400-acre facility at Chenoweth Trails, outside Greenville, Ohio. Over the course of ten days, Light and the kids rode dirt bikes, navigated a ropes course, visited area businesses, and participated in “fireside chats” about feelings, fears and goals for the future.
“The main goal of the camp is to break down prejudices and barriers,” Light told The Daily Advocate. “At the end of the day, these kids realize that even with different backgrounds, they have a lot in common, like family issues, and peer pressure — but they find common ground and learn from one another. It’s always a great experience for all of us.”
To keep the experience going, feel free to pull the trigger at the Shoot-Out’s registration page.
Photo via the Light Foundation.