Bass Pro Shops Receives NWTF’s Corporate Achievement Award
For more information, contact:  Jonathan Harling or Allison Kotowski, 803-637-3106.

Each year the National Wild Turkey Federation honors a corporate partner that has been outstanding in their efforts to promote wild turkey conservation and hunting.

The 2005 NWTF Corporate Achievement Award winner is Bass Pro Shops.
    
“The people at Bass Pro Shops are always asking us, ‘What can we do to help?’ They have been a great partner by supporting America’s hunting heritage and conservation legacy, and the NWTF,” said Rob Keck, NWTF CEO. “With partners such as Bass Pro Shops and with the caliber of volunteers we have involved with the NWTF, we are sure to continue doing big things for our conservation and hunting heritage.”
    
One of the many things Bass Pro Shops has done to support the NWTF is donate $1.1 million to the NWTF’s Building Fund to help pay for the organization’s recent expansion.  Bass Pro Shops’ founder, Johnny Morris, presented the donation during the NWTF’s leadership meeting in Edgefield, S.C., this past July.  
    
Committed to inspiring people to enjoy and conserve the great outdoors, Bass Pro Shops has been a long time supporter of the NWTF and its outreach programs.
    
Together, Wheelin’ Sportsmen NWTF and Bass Pro Shops have reached out to people with disabilities by offering hands-on outdoor activities and seminars during Fun and Learn Days held at Bass Pro Shops stores nationwide.   Bass Pro Shops opened their doors to people with disabilities for Wheelin’ Sportsmen events in Houston, Philadelphia, Nashville, Charlotte, Orlando and Gurnee, Ill.  Bass Pro Shops also supports the NWTF’s Women in the Outdoors and JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge Ethics and Sportsmanship) programs.  
    
Morris invited NWTF CEO Rob Keck to be a Grand Marshal at the NASCAR Nextel Cup Bass Pro Shops/MBNA 500 NASCAR race in Atlanta last October.  By being the Grand Marshal of the race, Keck had the opportunity to promote conservation and our hunting heritage before millions of people on national television.  For the same race, Morris donated sponsorship space to feature the flying NWTF turkey logo on the #33 race car, which created further awareness of wild turkey conservation and built a greater sense of pride for all the hard-working NWTF volunteers.
    
The NWTF presented Bass Pro Shops with the Corporate Achievement Award during the 29th Annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tenn.,
Feb. 18 - 20.
    
“We are proud to partner with NWTF in the very important work they do in conservation, youth education, getting women involved in the outdoors, and helping hunters with special needs”, stated Bass Pro Shops President Jim Hagale. “The passionate commitment of NWTF members and volunteers is a great example for all of us who love the outdoors. We are flattered by this special recognition.”
    
The original Bass Pro Shops store is located in Springfield, Missouri.  The 33-year-old company is an icon in the hunting and fishing industry.  Morris started Bass Pro Shops in1972, and is respected by millions across the nation, including the NWTF.  Today they have twenty-five stores across the United States selling a variety of outdoor goods to suit any outdoor enthusiast.  
    
For more information about the Corporate Achievement Award or about the NWTF, call 1-800-THE-NWTF or visit the website at www.nwtf.org.

For more information about Bass Pro Shops, visit www.basspro.com.  

2005 Convention Sponsors
BASF, Bass Pro Shops, Browning-USRAC, Club Car, Federal Cartridge, Georgia Forestry Commission,  Henkel Harris Furniture, Leupold & Stevens, The Lodge at Cabin Bluff, Marlin Firearms/H & R 1871, Mathews, Inc., MBNA, O.F. Mossberg, Remington Arms Company, T. I. Industries- Frame Moulding, Tennessee NWTF State Chapter, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee Forestry Commission, The Outdoor Channel, The Outdoor Connection, USDA-Forest Service, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, Wild Turkey Bourbon, Winchester                            

About the NWTF
In 1973, when the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded, there were an estimated 1.3 million wild turkeys and 1.5 million turkey hunters. Thanks to the work of wildlife agencies and the NWTF’s many volunteers and partners, today there are 6.8 million wild turkeys and approximately three million turkey hunters. Since 1985, more than $193 million NWTF and cooperator dollars have been spent on over 29,000 projects benefiting wild turkeys throughout North America.
    
The NWTF is a nonprofit organization with nearly 525,000 members in 50 states and 12 foreign countries. It supports scientific wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands as well as wild turkey hunting as a traditional North American sport.
    
For more information on the National Wild Turkey Federation, call (803) 637-3106; check out our Web site at www.nwtf.org or e-mail questions to nwtf@nwtf.net.