Earlier this month, we were honored to host the 8th Annual Clays for a Cause sport clay shooting event on December 10, 2020, at Saltwaters Shooting Club in St. Augustine, Florida. Founded, operated, and sponsored by MasterCraft Builder Group, this year’s event was the largest to date, with over 420 registered participants raising over $200,000 for dozens of North Florida charities.

When we first started Clays for a Cause, we raised money to benefit two amazing and worthy local nonprofits, St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS) and Seamark Ranch. Now, the fundraising event has expanded its reach, donating to multiple charities throughout Northeast Florida. This year’s event raised money for SAYS, Seamark Ranch, American Legion Post 194’s Kids Safe Zone, Rethreaded, HorsePlay Therapy Center, Alpha-Omega Miracle Home, and Port in the Storm – among others.

“Year after year, I’m blown away by the generosity and willingness to serve those in need here at home,” said our CEO and Founder, Chris Shee. “Clays for a Cause started as a fun, end-of-year activity for our MasterCraft employees and a few trade partners and has turned into a community-wide event focused on community, camaraderie, and charity.”

Since its commencement, Clays for a Cause has raised more than $640,000 for North Florida charities, with this year’s event raising a total of $207,000. “It is an incredible accomplishment and honor to raise and donate money which helps benefit children and families in need throughout our community,” said Shee.

Proceeds raised from this year’s Clays for a Cause event help break ground on projects that benefit the community. For example, American Legion Post 194’s Kids Safe Zone is a program where veterans volunteer their time to help underprivileged and at-risk kids in the community.

“This event is such a blessing,” explained Derry Green, Commander of American Legion Post 194. “Our Kids Safe Zone helps 40 kids in our after-school program in West Augustine, and we can do it for free because of people like Chris. At last year’s Clays for a Cause, we were given $25,000 and then another $10,000 this year. We will now be able to break ground in January on our American Legion Centennial Park and continue to serve the kids in our after-school and summer programs.”

Because of events such as Clays for a Cause, these charities can continue providing the work that they do, and our team at MasterCraft Builder Group could not be more honored to play a role.

As a local business with deep roots in Northeast Florida, we work hard crafting homes with precision and care with the intention that every MasterCraft home is adding to the community in which we all share. Our Founders, Chris and Brad Shee, started MasterCraft Builder Group to help shape our community here in St. Johns County, Florida and beyond, and the most significant part of that is giving back.

With this in mind, MasterCraft continues to invest in the community with fundraising events such as Clays for a Cause. “Our good fortune allows us to give back,” said Shee. “We look forward to growing this event for years to come and can’t wait to see what’s next.”

In addition to the annual Clays for a Cause event, our President and CEO, Chris Shee, was named one of “Best of St. Johns 2020” for the philanthropic work he’s done over the years. At MasterCraft Builder Group, we also donate $100 for every home sold to Builders Care of Northeast Florida, a local non-profit organization that repairs homes for the elderly, disabled, and low-income homeowners in North Florida. We were also honored to build this year’s “Home for the Heart”, in which all home profits are donated directly to Builders Care once it is sold.

For more information on our charitable giving and company vision, please visit MasterCraftBuilderGroup.com or visit our Facebook page to see photos from this year’s event.