Great Americans Shoot Raised $2.4 Million for Veterans
The annual fundraising event requires participants to contribute at least $10,000 to support mental health services for Green Berets.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The 13th annual Great Americans Shoot held in Lewisville generated $2.4 million in donations for the Special Forces Trust. The funds support mental health therapy for U.S. Army Green Berets whose needs are not met through standard military services.
Why it matters
The organization provides a critical gap-filling mental health service for service members through a system that ensures anonymity. By engaging donors through high-stakes competitive events, the trust has built a sustainable model for funding specialized veteran care.
The Great Americans Shoot raised $2.4 million in 2026, contributing to a $20 million lifetime total since the event's inception. Each of the participants is required to donate or raise a minimum of $10,000 to compete in the multi-day shooting competition.
The players
Mike Reynolds
Founder of the Great Americans Shoot who conceived the fundraising model in 2011.
Special Forces Trust
A non-profit organization that funds private mental health services for U.S. Army Green Berets.
The details
The event spans three days, beginning with a Friday dinner followed by clay target and multi-gun shooting competitions on Saturday and Sunday. Participants leverage their personal and professional networks to reach the $10,000 entry threshold. These funds directly finance private mental health therapy for U.S. Army Green Berets, allowing them to bypass traditional military channels via an anonymous identification system.
Timeline
The fundraiser's inception occurred in 2011.
The 13th annual Great Americans Shoot took place in October 2026.
Market Landscape
The Special Forces Trust operates as a private alternative to the U.S. Department of Defense's Military Health System by addressing specific mental health service gaps for special operations personnel. This model mirrors other private-sector efforts to supplement public healthcare delivery through targeted philanthropic capital.
Event organizers should monitor the success of this high-threshold fundraising model as a case study for donor engagement. Note that the founder is currently exploring potential expansion of the event to Florida for future years.
The takeaway
The event demonstrates how niche philanthropic vehicles can successfully mobilize significant capital for specialized health services. Operators looking to align their corporate giving with specific social impacts should evaluate how the trust uses anonymous identification to lower barriers for service users.
Further reading
For more on local charitable initiatives and donor impact, see Philanthropy.
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Should private nonprofit organizations fund essential mental health services for U.S. military veterans?
