To honor those who risk and give their lives for our freedoms has been a long standing SCI Foundation (SCIF) tradition. It is a way to show the foundation’s appreciation and gratitude for those who have defended our country. The SCIF Veterans Committee is dedicated to carrying out this mission by working each year to provide opportunities and programs for veterans. The SCI Foundation is pleased and proud to share these with you.

The Veterans Committee, along with its sponsor Trijicon, honors veterans each year with a Veteran’s Breakfast held at the SCI Convention. The breakfast is

free for all veterans who want to attend. Breakfast is provided along with entertainment and auctions to help raise funds to support the efforts of the SCIF Veterans Committee. In 2024, more than 200 veterans attended the program and were recognized for their efforts in preserving our country’s freedoms. This year’s breakfast is well into the planning stages by the committee. If interested in attending please get your tickets through the SCI Convention registration process here.

The SCIF Veteran’s Committee every year recognizes a combat veteran for their service above and beyond the call of duty by awarding the Combat Veteran Hunt. This veteran is nominated by an SCI chapter and then selected by the SCIF Veterans Committee. Last year’s recipient, Josh Wilson, was awarded a hunt at the Lazy CK Ranch in TX. Thanks to a generous donation from Union Hill Ranch, this year’s recipient will receive a 3-day 2-night stay for 1 hunter and1 non hunter for an Axis deer in Sept 2025. The recipient will receive this award at the Veteran’s Breakfast held at the 2025 SCI Annual Convention. The Veteran’s Committee is currently seeking donations towards the $3,500 cost of the animal for this year’s hunt package. If you or your chapter would like to help support this, please contact Deputy Director of Humanitarian Services, Laurine Wolf at Lwolf@sciffirstforhunters.org.

SCIF is not alone in its support of veterans. Around the country SCI Chapters sponsor hunting and fishing trips and/or programs for veterans, military wounded personnel, and their families. SCIF and the Veteran’s Committee recognizes these SCI chapters for their efforts by giving out awards to chapters who have been nominated. In 2024, the following SCI Chapters were chosen to receive an award:

Alaska Chapter East Ohio NW Penn Georgia Chapter Lehigh Valley Chapter

Music City Chapter National Capital Chapter San Antonio Chapter

You can earn an award for your chapter, presented at the 2025 SCI Annual Convention, by completing an application form with details of veteran’s projects or donations of $1,000 or more in support of a veteran’s project conducted by your chapter in 2024.

SCI Foundation would like to thank its Veterans Committee and SCI Chapters who are committed to recognizing the supreme sacrifice our veterans have given to protect our freedoms. If your SCI Chapter would like to submit an application to nominate an SCI chapter and/or a veteran for the Combat Veteran Hunt awards, please contact Armando Guiterrez Executive Assistant, Volunteer Services at AGuitterez@scifirstforhunters.org. All applications are due November 11, 2024.