SPRINGFIELD, MA…Former New England Patriot and Light Foundation Founder Matt Light recently visited the Smith & Wesson manufacturing facility in Springfield, Massachusetts. Smith & Wesson has been a firearms industry leader for more than 162 years, providing jobs to nearly 1,500 employees in the Pioneer Valley. The company was a 2014 "Platinum Level" sponsor of The Light Foundation's annual Celebrity Shoot-Out event, and has been a long-time supporter of the Foundation on many levels.
Light spent the better part of Monday touring the facility, meeting with employees, and taking advantage of some photo opportunities. He was there to show his appreciation to the company and its employees for helping to raise funds for Foundation programming and outdoor experiences for at-risk youth. "For many years now, Smith & Wesson has provided us the tools to help the kids we serve," said Light, "and I wanted to thank all of the people who make it possible on an ongoing basis." He even took a call in the Customer Service call center, retrieving item numbers, referring the customer to the website, and connecting the caller to a manager for a credit card transaction. "He jumped right in and took a customer call! That's one of the coolest things I've seen in the 20 years I've been working here," said Paul Remillard, Customer Service Team Leader.
For the folks at Smith & Wesson, it was an exciting day all around. "Our employees deserve the credit; without them we would not be able to make the charitable contributions that we do as a company. When someone like Matt Light is willing to come in and show his appreciation, it demonstrates that the work we all do and the contributions we make are truly meaningful and are helping to change lives," noted Employee Events & Community Relations Manager Elaine Stellato.
"It was such an honor to meet so many great people during my tour of the plant. I'm truly thankful for everyone's support and for the great relationship we have built over the years," added Light. "I look forward to having Smith & Wesson join me again at this Fall's 11th annual Matt Light Celebrity Shoot-Out. We can't imagine executing this event without them. They're truly part of our team."
The Matt Light Celebrity Shoot-Out is The Light Foundation's largest fundraiser, with nearly 500 guests and 150 volunteers. Participants have the opportunity to match their shooting skills against celebrity guests, participate in a handgun contest, and enjoy other outdoor activities like fly fishing and 3D archery.
Anne Bruce, Smith & Wesson Vice President of Human Resources, said, "Corporate responsibility has long been a cornerstone of our philosophy. The Light Foundation has been an active partner in advancing youth leadership opportunities while at the same time helping to advance the shooting sports. We are proud to join their efforts and welook forward to continuing to work with them as we strengthen our commitment to the communities in which we live and work.
The Light Foundation:
The Light Foundation (www.mattlightfoundation.org) was established in 2001 by 3-time Super Bowl Champion and 3-time Pro-Bowler Matt Light. Matt was drafted in 2000 out of Purdue University and for more than a decade, served as the anchor for the New England Patriots Offensive Line. The Light Foundation strives to instill and augment the values of responsibility, accountability and hard work by providing youth with unique outdoor learning experiences that assist them in reaching their highest potential. Its goal is to lead young people down a path to becoming responsible members of their communities who are capable of passing on the torch of leadership and achievement to their friends and families. Matt Light received the third New England Patriots Ron Burton Community Service Award in 2005, and in 2008, was presented the President's Volunteer Service Award for his outstanding work in the community by the Bush administration. In 2014, he was also named Humanitarian of the Year by All Sports United. Since its inception in 2001, the Light Foundation has raised more than $5 million for various programs and initiatives.
About Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC) is a U.S.-based leader in firearm manufacturing and design, delivering a broad portfolio of quality firearms, related products, and training to the global military, law enforcement, and consumer markets. The company's firearm division brands include Smith & Wesson®, M&P®, and Thompson/Center Arms™. As the industry leading manufacturer of shooting, reloading, gunsmithing and gun cleaning supplies, the company's accessories division produces innovative, top quality products under several premium brands, including Caldwell® Shooting Supplies, Wheeler® Engineering, Tipton® Gun Cleaning Supplies, and Lockdown® Vault Accessories. Smith & Wesson facilities are located in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and Missouri. For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: Margrette Mondillo Margrette@goodwinpr.com, or JoJo Gutfarb JoJo@goodwinpr.com, 508-404-1745
