The 5th annual Clays for a Cause sporting clay shoot, presented by St. Johns new home builder MasterCraft Builder Group, was held on November 17, 2016, in St. Augustine, and was the largest to date with more than 200 registered participants raising more than $50,000 for St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS) and Seamark Ranch.
St. Augustine Youth Services & Seamark Ranch were each presented with $26,500
“Clays for a Cause started as a small holiday party to thank our trade partners, vendors, and consultants for helping make our first year in business so successful,” said MasterCraft Builder Group Partner Chris Shee. “There were only six of us at MasterCraft so we decided to have a fun day of shooting clays with everyone instead of having a company holiday party. We paid for everyone to have lunch and shoot in exchange for them bringing a $50 donation for a local charity. The event has grown exponentially. Better yet, it has turned into a effective way of raising awareness and funds for local causes while enjoying a great day of shooting clays and enjoying each other’s company.”
In its first four years, Clays for a Cause raised a combined $50,000 for local causes. This year’s event raised $53,000, far exceeding the goal of $25,000. Being able to raise and donate more than $100,000 for local charities benefiting children and families in need is an incredible accomplishment.
MasterCraft Builder Group Partner Chris Shee with Robin Burchfield and Schuyer Siefker from SAYS.
2016 marked the third year money raised from Clays for a Cause has benefited St. Augustine Youth Services and the first in support of Seamark Ranch. These two charities will be the lifeblood of the event for many years to come. “We wholeheartedly support the mission of both SAYS and Seamark Ranch,” said Neill Singleton, Partner at MasterCraft Builder Group. “The support – both mental, physical and emotional – these charities provide to our local youth in need is enlightening and inspiring, which is why we will continue to support them through money raised from Clays for a Cause.”
“We are overjoyed to have MasterCraft Builder Group support the St. Augustine Youth Services with monies raised from Clays for a Cause,” said Schuyler Siekfer, SAYS Executive Director. “Funds raised from this event will go towards six new efficiency apartments adjacent to our property that will help ready our young men transitioning from our care and continuing a life of purpose,” added SAYS Director of Development Robin Burchfield.
Many see Seamark Ranch as a foster home, but it is much more than a children’s home, orphanage or group home. Seamark Ranch is a nurturing Christian home and family system located on almost 500 acres in Green Cove Springs that gives children from families in crisis the tools they need for a brighter future. Through a family home model, a specialized residential school and the lessons of life in a working farm community, Seamark Ranch provides the ideal setting for love, stabilization, healing, education, and empowerment.
“We are proud to support Seamark Ranch through Clays for a Cause,” said MasterCraft Builder Group Partner Andy Chambers. “It is an amazing facility doing so much to help local youth in Northeast Florida. Not only are we supporting them financially with the money raised through Clays for a Cause, but we will also be donating time and resources to help renovate their school and eventually build two new homes on the property,” he added.
As a local company, MasterCraft Builder Group works to a higher standard because it knows that every home it builds is for a future neighbor. With this in mind, it invests in the community with instincts that flow from the head and the heart. In addition to the annual Clays for a Cause event, the St. Johns home builder donates $100 for every home sold to Builder’s Care, a local non-profit organization that repairs homes for the elderly, disabled and low-income homeowners in Northeast Florida. MasterCraft also volunteers time and resources to various projects that help beautify the local community and enhance peoples’ lives.
MasterCraft Builder Group looks forward to continuing to grow this fun and rewarding event for many years to come. For more information, please visit MasterCraftBuilderGroup.com or visit our Facebook page to see photos from this year’s event.
