Matt Light aims to keep kids on target

MAPLEVILLE, R.I. (FOX Providence) - The Light Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 2001 by New England Patriot Matt Light, is gearing up for its annual signature fundraising event. The 2010 Matt Light Celebrity Shoot-Out will be held this September 14th, at the world-class Addieville East Farm in Mapleville, Rhode Island.

The Shoot-Out, now in its sixth year, offers participants the opportunity to match their shooting skills against Light, his teammates, and a host of local and national celebrities that include comedian Lenny Clarke and Olympic Gold Medalist Bode Miller. And you don’t have to be a crack shot to have a great time! Instructors at the Rhode Island course will teach rookies the basics of sporting clay shooting and provide all the necessary equipment.

Since its inception in 2004, this fundraiser has helped contribute nearly two million dollars to the Light Foundation’s initiatives, which consist of various academic scholarships and programs for at-risk teens in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Light’s home state of Ohio, and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana.

This also includes the recent opening of the Foundation’s outdoor camp and leadership facility Chenoweth Trails, which will be upgraded and expanded moving forward to support larger nonprofit groups’ efforts, and impact more kids from around the country. Light’s ultimate goal is to instill and augment the values of responsibility, accountability and hard work by providing youth with unique outdoor learning experiences that assist them in meeting, and exceeding all of their goals.

Light says he wanted to develop a unique, high-profile charity event that would raise funds and exposure for his Foundation, and his love of the outdoors naturally came into play. “We’re thrilled to be going into our 6th year. We’ve been so fortunate to have generous sponsors and donors who come back year after year to support us. The Shoot-Out has grown each season, and everyone anticipates getting out on the course and having some fun. In the world of fundraisers, there’s really nothing like it out there,” he adds. “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.”

Lighthouse Computer Services of Lincoln, Rhode Island, will serve as the Platinum sponsor for the 6th year in a row. The firm’s CEO, Tom Mrva, says his company has been a partner to the Light Foundation from the start, and admits this is one date he has booked off months ahead. “We just love this event because it’s unique, our clients have a great time, our employees have a great time, and we raise a lot of money for a worthy cause,” he adds. “I’ve seen firsthand the difference the Foundation’s programs have made for a lot of these kids. Many of them wouldn’t have the opportunity to grow and thrive, were it not for the work that Matt does with them.”

Many national sponsors have also joined forces with Light to make this event a success. The Foundation has received support from Viking, Kawasaki, Ruger, Smith and Wesson, Sig Sauer, Remington, White Flyer, and a host of other well-known companies in different industries.
Shooters in foursomes from all over New England, and around the country, will converge on Addieville to mingle with celebrities, enjoy lunch from the popular Qdoba Mexican Grill, and dinner by renowned steakhouse The Capital Grille. Spirits will be provided by Harpoon, Three Olives, and Cabin Fever Whiskey, hand-rolled cigars by New England Cigar Factory, and lakeside fly fishing and shooting demonstrations will be offered by some of each sport’s top names. The after party always kicks off with live music from recording artists Martin Sexton, and Light will get a hand from Clarke, and WAAF morning radio personality, Greg “the Hill-man” Hill, for a live auction that has to be experienced. “Lenny will sell just about anything for the Foundation,” says Light. “He always has a few surprises up his sleeve, and no one is safe from his appeals. He takes no prisoners!”

The Celebrity Shoot-Out has brought many of Light's famous friends together to support the cause. On the roster: current teammates Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Dan Koppen, Nick Kaczur, Logan Mankins, Stephen Gostkowski, to former teammates Tedy Bruschi, Adam Vinatieri, Larry Izzo, Lonnie Paxton, Russ Hochstein, Ellis Hobbs, Adalius Thomas and Mike Vrabel, to Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Andre Tippett, and a host of others. The world’s fastest shooter, Jerry Miculek, top chefs Ming Tsai and Michael Schlow, musician Sully from Godsmack, have also attended, and Light expects the guest list to be just as long this time around.

So is this a guys-only event? No way, says Light. “Many women are amazing shooters, and some of them have actually won the whole thing!” A fair majority of the 250-plus shooters who register for this event have never held a shotgun beforehand can arrive early at Addieville for safety lessons and