With most huntable wildlife populations on the rise, annual donations of wild game meat and fish to those in need have also increased. Since Safari Club International started the program in 1989, tens of millions of meals have been served at local soup kitchens, food banks, or other charitable organizations, such as The Salvation Army. Fall of 2005 76,020 pounds of wild game which provided 304,080 meals were donated to relief organizations.

Some hunters take their harvest to a licensed meat processor, pay for the processing themselves, and then donate the meat to the needy. Other hunters choose to share the meat from their freezers throughout the year. Because the demand for low-fat, low-cholesterol, preservative-free, high-protein meat is so great, these offerings by SCI members are vital to the nutritional success of food banks across America and the world.

Through the network of international SCI chapters, several thousand volunteer members and friends continually explore opportunities to feed the hungry. Usually, most SCI members make individual donations.

The Sportsmen Against Hunger program partnered with The Salvation Army once again to serve over 900 meals in Reno, Nevada during the 35th annual SCI Convention that took place in January of 2007. (press release) (photos)

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A most rewarding and moving program whereby individuals with visual impairment are offered a unique opportunity to “see” wildlife through the sense of touch.

By utilizing thousands of donated and borrowed animal mounts, skins, skulls, and horns, tens of thousands of individuals who are visually impaired and disabled have been able to gain a “visual” perspective of what nature’s animals are like. Each year, SCI member volunteers assist between 60,000 to 70,000 participants through a network of full mounted, table displays, and Sensory Safari trailers describing the animal’s size, sounds, habitats and behaviors. Whether touching the inside of an alligator’s long snout, feeling the serpentine neck of a giraffe, stroking the thick fur of a bear, or hearing the game calls of waterfowl and big game, the participants get to experience what even many sighted people have not.

The program drew the attention of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), which asked SCIF to host a Sensory Safari at its annual convention. It was such a success that, in 1997, the NFB signed a memorandum of understanding with SCI to host Sensory Safari at all future national and state conventions.

While most Sensory Safaris have been temporary exhibits, many schools for the blind, wildlife zoos, natural history museums, and libraries are now requesting and establishing permanent displays.

SCI Record Book taxonomic information on game species through out the world

Sensory Safari Provides Unique Opportunity to See Wildlife -- Rich White & Eva Wilson, Safari Magazine

2006-2008 Schedule >>

A volunteer health care outreach program serving people in need around the globe.

SafariCare:

SCI and SCIF, like so many organizations, put forth enormous effort each year to help improve the quality of life throughout the world. We are proud of SafariCare’s annual humanitarian efforts and contributions, such as our most recent donation of over $50,000 to the Katrina Relief Fund.

Cooperation with international governments for this and other ongoing SarariCare missions is excellent; however, transportation and shipment of donated supplies can become costly and may temporarily delay deliveries. An innovative approach to help alleviate this problem is the use of “SafariCare blue bags,” which have been successful and have gained membership support.

These blue bags are filled by chapters with medical, educational, and other relief supplies, which are then taken to remote areas of the world by hunters who have planned hunts in these regions. The supplies are delivered directly to clinics and schools for doctors and teachers to utilize. Fortunately, these bags are shipped as luggage to keep both shipping time and costs at an absolute minimum. More >>

Sportsmen Against Cancer
General Norman Schwarzkopf, traveled to the Naples-Ft. Myers Chapter to preside over the Inaugural “Top Shot Challenge” a shooting competition to benefit the “Sportsmen Against Cancer” program. General Schwarzkopf presented the Awards and showed support to the Florida Law Enforcement Officers from Florida’s Gulf Coast who were invited to participate in the first annual invitational event. More >>

Safari Wish Program
SCI Foundation’s SafariWish Project is part of SCI Foundation’s SafariCare Program, which has been designed to grant hunting and hunting-related wishes to individuals with life-threatening illnesses. Since 1992, SCI members and chapters have raised funds to grant these wishes, sometimes sponsoring several SafariWishes at the same time. Hunts may be local, due to the severity of an illness or they may take place in distant locations, such as Africa or Australia, when a doctor or caregiver can accompany the individual on the hunt.

Safari Wish: Brandon Gruber

The Northwoods Chapter SCI again sponsored a "Special Needs" young man on a Hunt Of A Lifetime. In early September, Brandon Gruber of Calumet, MI visited The Legends Ranch, Bitely, MI where he joined several other "Special Kids" for a hunt. He was accompanied by his Mother.

Brandon took a beautiful 214 pound 8 point whitetail buck. He also won a trophy for the largest buck.

The Northwoods Chapter SCI has sponsored 11 young hunters on these SafariWish hunts in the last 5 years. Funding for these hunts comes from a special raffle conducted each year. The Northwoods Chapter SCI Board of Directors thanks all that purchased tickets for making these hunts possible.

Safari Wish: Georgia Chapter

This year the Georgia Chapter of Safari Club International in association with the United Special Sportsman Alliance (USSA) will grant 79 wishes, and hopes to bring that number to 125 in 2006.

The Georgia Safari Club is a non-profit organization that supports wildlife conservation and helps sick and terminally ill children fulfill wishes. The Georgia Safari Club has taken more than 30 kids on Safari Wishes from south Georgia to the wilds of Alaska. For more information call 770-205-6973 or visit www.gasci.org.

Past Safari Wishes >>

A program designed to foster and promote opportunities for disabled hunters to experience the hunting tradition and heritage, and to recognize the individual’s perseverance in hunting activities.

Disabled hunters and shooters across the country are benefiting from the generous gifts of time, goods, and services provided by SCI members. In an effort to make outdoor sports available and accessible to over 500 individuals with disabilities each year, SCI members and entire chapters work hard to support projects for these sportsmen and women.

Each year, SCIF sponsors and coordinates world-class hunting safaris for the annual Pathfinder Award. This award is presented to an individual who is faced with overcoming a physical challenge or disability that is otherwise capable of interfering with a routine way through life; he or she must discover previously unexplored regions of self-esteem, self-worth, courage, persistence, and determination. The recipient is someone who has a “never quit” attitude and who is recognized as an ambassador for other “pathfinders” seeking leadership when faced with similar challenges.

There are over 555,000 hunters and shooters with disabilities in the United States alone. Through a network of SCI chapters around the world, members have created partnerships with both public and private organizations, as well as with generous individuals, who support the Disabled Hunter program, always hoping to improve the quality of life for hunters and shooters with disabilities. More..

The Pathfinder Award
When an individual is faced with overcoming a physical challenge or disability that is capable of blocking the "routine" way forward through life, (including hunting and shooting), he or she must discover previously unexplored regions of self-esteem, self-worth, courage, persistence, and determination. Through trial and error, success and failure, the pathfinder, with a "never quit" attitude, works hard to discover his or her own way through life. Annually, the world’s most accomplished hunters recognize this individual as an ambassador for other "pathfinders" seeking leadership and promise when faced with similar challenges. There is no common path; each individual's journey is unique and sacred.
Click here for more information and a printable application form >>

Versa Rest™
Versa Rest™ is a system which allows disabled hunters to wield firearms, and have an equal opportunity to hunt.
Click here for more information about Versa Rest™