- Local Safari Club plans bone marrow
drive
- March 2, 2003
- By Kimberly Long
- The Fulton Sun
-
- Safari Club International members in Fulton are launching a free registry drive
to help eliminate a nationwide shortage of bone marrow donors.
- Known for its Safari Wish program, which affords terminally ill children
the opportunity to participate in hunting and fishing trips, the club’s Central Missouri Foundation is planning a bone marrow drive
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, at Callaway Community Hospital in Fulton.
- The foundation’s Sensory Safari trailer, which
features animal mounts from all over the world, will be on site. Free tours will be offered.
- “We’ve seen firsthand the need and lack
of availability of suitable bone marrow donors,” said the foundation’s Vice President William Cravens. “The purpose of this event
is to solicit individuals.”
- Interested donors will have their blood tested and entered in a national registry. The test is simple
and painless, organizers said.
- The group already has received support from the Jefferson City Jaycees and hopes to welcome a big response
from Callaway County residents-especially those of Asian and African descent.
- Organizers said there is a dire need nationwide for
donors of both ethnicities.
- “We love taking the kids hunting and fishing, but if we could help find a donor to save their lives, that
would be a gift of a lifetime,” said foundation Treasurer Dennis Moore.
- Covered by the organization, the cost for each donor who participates
is $26. To help offset expenses, the foundation is welcoming donations, which may be tax-deductible and will be used solely for this
drive, organizers said.
- Parties interested in giving may call 592-0337 or send donations to Central Missouri Foundation of SCI, P.O.
Box 105823, Jefferson City, MO 65110.
- Through Safari Wish, the foundation has granted outdoor excursions to eight children battling
life-threatening illnesses. At least two of the youths suffered leukemia.
- One passed away, and the other has received a bone marrow
transplant.
- If this were your child, you would hope that someone would come to your rescue,” Moore said. Now is your chance to give
that hope to someone else.”
Safari Club helps children live out wishesTerminally ill youths are given thechance to hunt or fish
February
10, 2003By Kori Rumore Mid-Missouri Business Journal
- FULTON – Seventeen-year-old David Franklin had one wish. Just like other boys
his age, he dreamed about harvesting his first buck on a local hunting expedition. But David had more adult concerns than other boys
did; the Poplar Bluff, Mo. native was in the final stages of leukemia. He had just completed chemotherapy, and had received a bone
marrow transplant from his brother.
- The opportunity for David to experience his dream was grim, until the Central Missouri chapter
of Safari Club International stepped in. The organization’s Safari Wish program, which helps terminally ill children realize their
dreams to hunt and fish covered all expenses and planning. The chapter even provided for medical monitoring for the duration of the
trip.
- “Many of these families just don’t have the resources to make hunting a bull elk, red stag or Russian boar possible,” said Drake
Dawson, president of the Central Missouri chapter. “The financial drain on families battling life-threatening illness is enormous.
That’s where our foundation steps in.”
- In December 2000, David, his family and his physician traveled to Whitetail Dreams, a hunting
preserve in Fulton.
- “I can’t believe this is happening,” David said at the time. “My whole life I wanted to go hunting. But when I
got sick, I just figured it was all over.”
- The Safari Wish program invites the child’s entire family to participate in the trip.
- “Having
the family together is a big part of what we are trying to accomplish,” said Martin Wilson, chapter member and Safari Wish coordinator.
“The kids naturally have a great time, but their parents and siblings really enjoy the outings as well.”
- At the preserve, David’s
dream came true – he harvested a 13-point buck. Since David’s safari, members of the Central Missouri chapter have taken even terminally
ill children from all over the state, including Salisbury, Jefferson City, Fulton, St. Louis and Rolla on Safari Wish trips. Local
Safari Wish Project Coordinator Larry Dotson said the trips are made possible due to the generosity of local businesses, which specialize
in hunting and fishing.
- “Outfitters such as Whitetail Dreams, Eagle Ridge in Linn, Big-Horn Lodge in Exeter and Show Me Safaris in
Summersville have really made the Safari Wish program possible,” Dotson said. “On nearly every occasion, the outfitters have donated
the entire cost of the hunt portion of the Safari Wish.”
- Sam James, owner of Whitetail Dreams, said the Safari Wish program is not
just a memorable experience for the children, but also for everyone involved.
- “We have taken three kids hunting at our ranch over
the past two years,” James said. “The smiles on their faces really brighten your day. These kids make a lasting impression on everyone
who attends the hunt.”
- Dotson estimates each Safari Wish trip costs approximately $500, and the chapter budgets $10,000 each year
to take four children on their dream hunting or fishing excursions. The chapter not only pays for the trip, but also taxidermy costs.
Each family also is presented with a videotape of their excursion, taken by a professional photographer.
- The money budgeted for the
Safari Wish program is raised at the chapter’s yearly fund-raiser in August, Dotson said. Other programs organized by the chapter
include an annual fishing tournament for children, and hunter safety classes.
- “We have people who belong to our chapter from out of
state, just because they believe in our projects,” Dotson said. “People want to be a part of it.”
- The chapter’s Sportsmen for Hunger
program raised more than 10,000 pounds of venison for local organizations including The Salvation Army, Women’s Crisis Center and
Central Missouri Food Bank in 2002. “Local hunters donated the venison, and our chapter paid for the processing of the meat,” Dotson
said. “Some of the places we delivered the meat, people were waiting for this food. They desperately needed it.”
- The chapter, which
was organized in 2001 and currently has 250 members from throughout the state, is gaining international recognition for its philanthropic
activities. At this January’s Safari Club International Annual Convention in Reno, Nev., the chapter is receiving awards for its top
recruiting and humanitarian aid. The chapter also will be presented with the organization’s highest honor, the “Top Gun” award, which
goes to the best chapter in the world.
- “I imagine in the upcoming years, we’ll say focused on the projects we do, and recruit more
people to join our organization,” Dotson said.
- If you know of a terminally ill child interested in a Safari Wish trip, or would like
to donate your company’s time or services to this program, contact Larry Dotson at (573) 642-6401.
Central Missouri Deer Hunters Show
Much Support for the Needy
Thanks to the generosity of central Missouri deer hunters, many needy families and individuals have received
some fine Missouri venison in 2002. Nearly five tons of venison was donated to charitable organizations during 2002 through the Share
the Harvest/Sportsmen Against Hunger program, sponsored by the Central Missouri Foundation of Safari Club International (CMFSCI).
This was a nearly a 30% increase over the previous year. The donations made it possible for nearly 1,500 distributions of venison
to needy persons in central Missouri, says Earl Cannon, coordinator of the program for CMFSCI.
Four meat processors participated in
the foundations Sportsmen Against Hunger program. They were: Hartman’s Custom Meat Processing in New Bloomfield, the Russeville Locker
in Russeville, R & R Processing in Auxvasse and Crane’s Meat Processing in Ashland. In addition, Blue’s Market in Newburg, processed
game coming from a hunting reserve, a program separate from Share the Harvest.
All hunters needed to do was to inform the processor
the amount of venison they wanted to donate, ranging from one pound up to an entire deer. The Conservation Federation of Missouri,
with support from Shelter Insurance, Bass Pro Shops and the Missouri Department of Conservation reimbursed $25.00 statewide to all
hunters donating whole deer. This was to help defray the cost of processing. CMFSCI paid the remainder of the processing cost for
whole deer donations. Hunters donating a portion of a deer paid the processing cost.
Venison donated to this program was distributed
to the needy by the following charitable organizations: Central Missouri Food Bank in Columbia; Serve, Inc. in Fulton; Oak Chapel
Missionary Baptist Church in New Bloomfield; The Salvation Army, Samaritan Center and Capital City Christian Church Food Pantry in
Jefferson City.
Allen Stark, president of CMFSCI said, “Our organization is fortunate to have this opportunity to help hunters serve
the needy and we are so thankful for the great response by the hunters, meat processors, supporting organizations and others who continue
making our program so successful. All charitable organizations served, reported increasing demand for food so the increased donations
by hunters is very much appreciated”.
Earl Cannon said, “The support was outstanding this year. We had more donations in 2002 and
were able to help more people through these difficult economic times”. In 2001, CMFSCI and the Central Missouri Chapter of Safari
Club International were able to donate 7,076 pounds of venison. In 2002, that went to 9,620 pounds. According to Mr. Cannon, “The
only thing that keeps us from being able to provide more food to the various charities is a lack of resources. If every hunter would
give just a couple pounds of venison, we could double our support for 2003 ”.
If you are interested in locating a participating meat
processor or in making a tax-deductible financial donation to help with this worthy cause, please feel free to contact: