The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) announces that after eight years in the role of President and CEO, Ben Berka will step down on August 26, 2022. “Ben Berka has served well when the Foundation needed strong and capable leadership. how the programs grew,” commented SSSF Board Chairman Ed Fitzgerald. “He has paved the way for future growth and capabilities, and we wish him well in his new opportunities.”
Tom Wondrash and Rick Leach, as strong leaders and the respective national directors of the Foundation’s Scholastic Clay Target and Scholastic Action Shooting programs, will assist with the transition of the daily operations of the Foundation. “Both Tom Wondrash and Rick Leach have a proven track record of leadership and organizational development that qualifies them for this effort,” said Chris Hodgdon, SSSF Vice President. “Having been the drivers behind many of the Foundation’s efforts to expand its capabilities and offerings makes them uniquely effective in working together to operate and manage the resources of the largest youth shooting program in the world.”
Having concluded July’s National Championship event with over 10,000 combined registrations, this marks the Foundation’s largest Clay Target competition to date and the largest Action Shooting tournament in the world. Youth development programs will begin ramping up for the start of the fall season as many teams are back in school competing.
About the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity responsible for all aspects of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) in the United States. SCTP and SASP are youth development programs in which adult coaches and other volunteers use shooting sports to teach and demonstrate sportsmanship, responsibility, honesty, ethics, integrity, teamwork, and other positive life skills.
Provide and enhance personal growth and development opportunities for student-athlete members; become the leading authority on all things firearms-related activities for youth; pass on to future generations the legacy of safe, responsible, lifetime enjoyment of shooting sports. This includes serving as a primary feed channel for organized and sanctioned shooting organizations and teams, such as USA SHOOTING, TEAM USA, and the NGBs (NSSA, NSCA, ATA).