Aiming to Empower Families: The Salvation Army Hosts 9th Annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser
WEIRTON, W.Va. (July 29, 2026) – The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division’s Shoot for Hope fundraiser, presented by Huntington Bank, in honor of Michael Stark, is back for its ninth year, offering a fun-filled day of sporting clays competition! This annual fundraiser will be held at a new venue this year, Coal Ridge Sporting Clays in Weirton, W.Va. on Thursday, October 29, 2026. All proceeds will go toward Pathway of Hope, a Salvation Army program aiming to end generational poverty.
“We are excited to welcome our supporters to a new venue this year, with new sponsorship opportunities,” Lauren Fair, Divisional Social Services Director for The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division said. “This is a great day to bring along family, friends and clients to break clays for a good cause. The funds raised from this event allow us to make a tangible difference in the lives of families across Western Pennsylvania.”
Visit salvationarmywpa.org/shootforhope to purchase tickets to join as a guest, single player, or to form a team of four. Sponsorship packages are also available with new offerings and new venue pricing. The day will begin with registration opening at 9 a.m., flight start time at 10 a.m., followed by a buffet lunch and awards. All skill levels are welcome to participate in this 100-target event. Ammunition will be provided, and instruction is available.
A nurturing, stable home forms the foundation for a child’s emotional well-being, academic success and long-term potential. The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope is a case-managed program designed to support struggling families who are facing life barriers but are motivated to create lasting change. This strengths-based program empowers families to set goals and take actionable steps toward a brighter future. Families enrolled in Pathway of Hope meet regularly with a dedicated case manager to identify their strengths, set achievable goals, and develop a personalized plan for success. Through ongoing support and encouragement, families are connected to valuable resources and services within their community, helping to build a strong, reliable support network and achieve sustainable, long-term outcomes.
Pathway of Hope serves six counties in Western Pennsylvania: Allegheny, Crawford, Erie, Lawrence, Mercer and Venango. In fiscal year 2025, Pathway of Hope worked intensively with 67 families, and positively impacted 157 children. Families in the program faced barriers to gaining employment, housing stability, transportation, child care and more. Participation in Pathway of Hope resulted in 26 families increasing their income and 22 families successfully completing this program.
“My life has been an ongoing rollercoaster, physically, mentally and spiritually as a mother, daughter, sister and a friend,” said one mother in the program. “Having the support from Pathway of Hope has been a very pleasing handful of encouragement and hope.”
“Pathway of Hope helped our family set reachable goals to strengthen our self-esteem, connected us to organizations and other people that helped us pave a brighter and more secure future for ourselves and our children,” shared another family.
Shoot for Hope is presented by Huntington Bank. The event honors the memory of Michael Stark, a beloved member of The Salvation Army’s Greater Pittsburgh Advisory Board, an avid clay shooter and a big supporter of Pathway of Hope. Visit salvationarmywpa.org/shootforhope to register today. Space is limited, the last day to register is Thursday, October 15.
Celebrating more than 160 years of global service as both a church and a social service organization, The Salvation Army began in London, England in 1865. Today, it provides critical services in 134 countries worldwide. The 28-county Western Pennsylvania Division serves thousands of needy families through a wide variety of support services. To learn more about The Salvation Army in Western Pennsylvania, visit salvationarmywpa.org. The Salvation Army … doing the most good for the most people in the most need.