Letter: OK, so what is Fund 87?

By Carl Wilson
Junior Shooting Sports is a gun safety and marksmanship program of The American Legion. Participants compete in 3-position air rifle competitions in the Precision and Sporter categories. National champions are crowned annually.

Fund 87 is a special fund dedicated to assisting American Legion posts and Junior Shooting Sports teams throughout the state of Minnesota to organize, teach, practice, and compete in one of the fastest growing sports in the United States — 3 position Air Rifle Shooting.

Fund 87 was started a number of years ago by some great people that believed that the future of the American Legion Americanism program Junior Shooting Sports could use some help, and in turn help the young people in their community and the state.

Junior Shooting Sports teaches young students’ gun safety, dedication, self-control and builds their self-esteem all while having fun. The American Legions and Clubs that have Junior Shooting Programs try and do it on their own, but this sport is very expensive, on average it cost somewhere around $1,800 to outfit a single shooter with the equipment needed to practice and compete if they so desire.

This doesn’t count the miles of travel, the hotel rooms for those competing out of their local area, the list could go on. The clubs that are affiliated with the American Legion can request support from Fund 87, and some have over the years, and now the seed money that those great people started years ago is starting to decline.  I have decided to write this article in hopes of letting everyone know about the desperate need to bring Fund 87 up too and possibly pass the point that it was years ago.

If you or your post would like to donate to this wonderful fund, simply send the donation to American Legion Department of Minnesota at 20 W 12th St., Room 300A, St. Paul, MN 55155.

Make the check out to “Minnesota American Legion Foundation” and note in the memo “Fund 87.”

I would also like to remind everyone that this fund is eligible to accept gambling funds as the foundation is a separate nonprofit from the Legion itself.

Its goal is to support many Legion programs, such as Junior Shooting Sports, Baseball, Softball and more.

Thank you for all you do.

Carl Wilson

Chairman

Department Junior Shooting Sports Committee