We believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience hunting, fishing, and wildlife first hand. There are countless studies and publications that express endless reasons why youth need to experience the outdoors. However, the number of youth getting involved in the outdoors is dwindling with each generation, especially learning about hunting and fishing. The mission of Ray Park Foundation is to create opportunities for young people to hunt and fish and learn wildlife management through hands-on experiences.

Ray Park Foundation is a full-charity 501(c)(3) non- profit organization founded in 2012 in Sandusky, MI. Since our beginning, we have raised over $260,000 and have sponsored over 120 hunts for disabled youth, sent youth to Kicking Bear Ministry camps, fishing trips and other causes connecting youth to the great outdoors.
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We take 100% of the funds raised and put rods in hands, boots in mud, and bows in the grips of youth who may not otherwise ever have the opportunity to experience the great outdoors. We partner with fellow non-profits like the Kicking Bear Ministries and the Foundation for Hope to provide opportunities for youth in their programs to hunt and fish.
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RAYPARKFOUNDATION.COM

WHO IS RAY PARK - BY BRIAN PARK

I remember the crunching snow beneath my feet as I walked to my tree stand. The air was cold and crisp. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and stars were bright as flashlights. I crawled in to my tree stand and gazed up at the stars. I can still remember the sound of the Ruby River running next to me. There were Geese landing on the pond only 20 yards to my left- swoosh. Soon the sun would start to climb and my anticipation was running rampant. I was 19 years old. I was deer hunting with my father in Twin Bridges Montana. This was our first big game hunt together out side the state of Michigan. I remember this trip very well as it was the first time. I really began to appreciate what my father had done for me. From that day on the two of us had begun to build a relationship that resulted in him being my best friend, not just my father. 18 years later, Ray's life sadly ended in September of 2009 from Pancreatic cancer.

Ray Park was a family man. He had a wife (Betty) and 4 children- 3 girls and my self (the youngest). Now there are 11 grand children. When I look back at his life I can see his influence on many. He began hunting, fishing and trapping at a very early age in his hometown of Yale Michigan. My older sisters tell stories of holding (what they thought was) a dead fox for Ray while he checked on other traps. Screaming was certainly in order after it took a deep breath and Susan dropped it to the ground. My mother showed us all pictures of her and Ray hunting in Montana- red plaid wool- not Mossy Oak  or  Real tree.  I remember standing in a flooded cornfield waiting for ducks when I was only 12.  Oh yeah, I dropped my shotgun in the water and lived to tell about it! How does any man have the patience to teach a child about the out doors?  I'm not saying he was a patient man. But I am saying he had the ability to stick with his plan. He was going to get me involved with the out doors no matter what I did. Giving up was not an option. He took me trapping, duck hunting, pheasant hunting and eventually deer hunting. Of course I have horror stories of all the mistakes I made in the field.  However. Ray continued to be diligent with his quest to keep me involved in hunting. We kept up the tradition of hunting together whether  I wanted to get up in the morning or not. To him my mistakes were stepping-stones. He could see the bigger picture. Ray was a member of the NRA. Pheasants forever, Ducks unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. QDMA and many others. He had
a passion for the outdoors. I was fortunate enough to watch as my mentor laid out a path for my future.

Now the outdoors is a way of life for me too. I  live, breathe and oh I guess I will die in the outdoors. But today the number of people getting involved with the outdoors is dwindling. It is our job as adults to see to it that our children get involved in the outdoors.  If we don't teach them many will never know how great the outdoors can be.
-Brian Park

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