[sal briguglio]

Field Owners, Store Owners, and individuals please take the time to visit www. paintballscholarships.com.

This is a worthy effort we should all immediately support in every way we can.

Thanks,

[GatSplat]

Really?? So this is a web address that just got registered a few weeks ago, listed with a proxy site to hide the web owners name, and the address we are supposed to send donations to is a private residence.

Is there any listings of non-profit status?? Corporation status?? Who and what is this?? Who is making the decisions on where the money goes?? What part of any money collected is actually given to kids, and not spent on "administration costs"... and on and on... would be a few questions I would wonder about.

But I'm just that way....

Not trying to be to cynical, but never heard of this "scholarship" before.

[sal briguglio]

Originally Posted by GatSplat

Really?? So this is a web address that just got registered a few weeks ago, listed with a proxy site to hide the web owners name, and the address we are supposed to send donations to is a private residence.

Is there any listings of non-profit status?? Corporation status?? Who and what is this?? Who is making the decisions on where the money goes?? What part of any money collected is actually given to kids, and not spent on "administration costs"... and on and on... would be a few questions I would wonder about.

But I'm just that way....

Not trying to be to cynical, but never heard of this "scholarship" before.

Larry,

Those are all good questions that an intelligent person would ask. let's see if I can help answer some of them.

You haven't heard of this program before because it is in it's infancy. I am trying to remedy that by making this post today.

1. The program is the brainchild of Jim Lively. Jim is one of the most trustworthy people I have ever known.

2. Jim tells me that a corporation has been formed and the not-for-profit paperwork is complete.

3. There is a "Board" that currently consists of Jim Lively, Bambi Bullard, Debra Dion Krischke, Tom Kaye, Me and Jessica Sparks. I believe Jim is recruiting other board members. We are ALL strictly volunteers and NONE of us anticipate making a dime from this program.

4. The private residence is Jim's address.He and his wife Linda are serving as Director and Treasurer of the program and a special banking account has been set up for this purpose.

5. Jim anticipates about 15% of all donations going to pay for print materials etc. All other monies will go directly to students. Annual reports will be made public.

6. The board members will serve as recipient selection committee.

7. Anyone who knows me knows that I would never involve myself in anything that was a "scam". I have supported the sport in every way I can for many years. The same goes for everyone currently on the board. We simply believe in this concept and view it as another way to present the sport in a positive fashion to the general public and, in the process, help some high school kids further their education.

Thanks for asking the questions. I am sure a lot of people want to know the details of this program.

[Skipdogg]

"There is a "Board" that currently consists of Jim Lively, Bambi Bullard, Debra Dion Krischke, Tom Kaye, Me and Jessica Sparks".

You have me at hello. This group of people are among the best in paintball EVER! Plus I consider Tom Kaye my personal paintball hero and would probably blindly walk off a cliff if he told me too!! just putting out my potential personal bias for everyone...
I will be looking into this cause further to support it anyway I can

BTW - With Tom on the board, a thread on Automags.org seems appropriate.

[raehl]

Out of curiosity, what print materials are you planning to generate?

I've been running a non-profit for 10 years and have not spent a dime on printed materials beyond event schedules out of the laser printer.

Not saying you couldn't do so, just not sure print is the most effective way to reach 17-year-olds.

- Chris

[sal briguglio]

Originally Posted by raehl

Out of curiosity, what print materials are you planning to generate?

I've been running a non-profit for 10 years and have not spent a dime on printed materials beyond event schedules out of the laser printer.

Not saying you couldn't do so, just not sure print is the most effective way to reach 17-year-olds.

- Chris

Chris,

We all know that I am brain-dead when it comes to doing things on a computer. I would send proofs of the printed material Jim has already produced if I knew how to do that!!! LOL.

He has print versions of what you see on the website, some gold "medallions" (which duplicate the image of Bob Gurnsey), a sheet to fill out for donations, etc. that I have seen so far. I honestly don't know how/where he is having the printed material done.

I will ask Jim and/or some of the other board members who are more computer savvy to respond to some of these questions. You may have come up with something, maybe we can find ways to lower the costs of printed materials.

Thanks for the interest.

[sal briguglio]

Chris,

After re-reading your post, it just occured to me that yes, you have been operating a non-profit organization for a long time. Maybe you should consider being on the board of this effort. It really does fit in with everything you have been already doing for years. I will have Jim contact you.

[raehl]

I'd be very happy to help out, but whether the best way to do so would be as a Board member may depend on the responsibilities. The plate is pretty full.

I do have a couple ideas on how we can help you get the word out through some of the options open through NCPA.

- Chris

[Nish]

I would like to suggest opening this up to current College Students as well. College is just as expensive Sophomore year as it is Freshman year.

[sal briguglio]

Originally Posted by Nish

I would like to suggest opening this up to current College Students as well. College is just as expensive Sophomore year as it is Freshman year.

As I stated before, this effort is in it's infancy. We are just starting to get the ball rolling. It is rather obvious that the program would be beneficial to current college students and I would have to assume that we will address the issue eventually but at this time it is set up for high school students.

[raehl]

The scholarship universe in general is pretty heavily tilted towards those entering college from high school, not those already in college (spoken as someone who had a nearly free ride so my sister could blow all my parents' college savings on Notre Dame ).

I'd thus say high school seniors is a very good place to start. It also makes it a lot easier to evaluate applicants on similar criteria. Much harder to compare current college students against current high school students.

- Chris

[r.j.t.]

Jim has been working on this for several month and he has put his own money up for seed money to start the fund.

RJ
Nashville RidgeRunner

[snowcat]

I would agree with Chris regarding starting with high school seniors. I'm a high school counselor and have dealt with startup scholarships for over ten years. The scholarships go fairly well for the first few years. The problem lies in keeping money coming into the fund. I would be more than happy to answer any questions regarding this subject from the educational view.

Troy

[sal briguglio]

While I was in Las Vegas, the NPPL held a "Texas holdem" poker game and donated the proceeds to our charity. I think it brought in about $2,000.00!

Big Props to Chuck Hendsch and the NPPL guys.

Thanks,

Sal.

[VSOwnage]

Good to see progress being made on this. As a former NCPA player/club president/founder..I know this will be beneficial to mitigating the ever-growing costs associated with attending college.

[r.j.t.]

Deadline for signing up has been extended.

Mr Lively has done a great job of funding this grant.

Check it out if you are in high school.

RJ