Yamaha Has Been Keeping Busy
Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., today announced it has contributed more than $35,000 in funds and equipment to three GRANT applicants from the last funding cycle in 2014. The final GRANTs of 2014 bring the annual total to more than $225,000, advancing the mission of promoting safe, responsible use and open, sustainable access. In celebration of this milestone, Yamaha sponsored Outdoor Life magazine’s Open Country Awards at this year’s Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas.
“Yamaha’s efforts to be more inclusive by embracing the diversity of the outdoor enthusiast and OHV user community has been met with great enthusiasm. Yamaha has injected more than $2.5 million into 250 projects across the country focused on addressing a wide spectrum of access issues,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV and SxS group marketing manager. “Everyone involved in the Yamaha GRANT program is extremely proud of the work we have accomplished, but – as always – there is much more to be done. The call to action to all outdoor enthusiasts is to continue to identify existing problems or potential opportunities for motorized recreation.”
The fourth quarter GRANT recipients of the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative are:
Cullman County, Alabama
Great Lakes Dual Sports Club, Michigan
Highmarket Wheelers ATV Club, New York
These GRANT awarded projects support the program’s industry-leading dedication to safe, responsible use and open sustainable access to land, trails and riding areas for OHV users. Yamaha continues to seek qualified projects and applications at local, state and federal levels. The current Outdoor Access Initiative GRANT application form and guidelines are available online at www.yamahaoutdooraccess.com.
Today’s announcement coincides with Yamaha’s presence at SHOT Show, which underscored the Outdoor Access Initiative platform supporting outdoor enthusiasts of all types and included the sponsorship of the Open Country Awards from Outdoor Life. At a luncheon hosted by Outdoor Life, Yamaha partnered with 2014 Open Country Corporate award winner, Powderhook, for a giveaway promotion of a Yamaha generator and a fishing trip to Canada. A drawing held at the end of the event revealed Shannon Ankeny as the lucky winner.
Yamaha Viking VI Donated to HAVA
Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) announces the donation of a Viking VI (6-seat) Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicle from Yamaha Outdoors for use with the disabled veterans and injured active military which it serves. Yamaha, an original HAVA founding company, and one of its largest sponsors, donated the $15,000 vehicle to allow HAVA to better accommodate the needs of its veterans for off-road transportation, particularly during hunts in remote locations.
The first use of the new SxS was during an early-December elk hunt near the NRA Wittington Center which hosted 10 disabled participants in the snow and freezing temperatures at altitudes above 10,000 feet. With a 115 inch wheelbase, 686 cc 4-strokeengine, 3-way locking differential, hydraulic disc brakes and a 1667 pound wet GVW; the Viking VI has all of the capability needed for HAVA’s important work under the most difficult conditions.
“Yamaha was one of our 6 founding companies in 2008, and has been there supporting the cause at every step since then,” said HAVA Chairman Tom Taylor. “They are a leader in the SxS category and can offer us both the right vehicle and the right service and support coordinated from their Georgia-based factory. With the addition of this formidable equipment, we will be able to accommodate disabilities in the most extreme remote locations.”
Added Yamaha Outdoors Marketing Manager Steve Nessl, also a HAVA Director, “Being able to donate our latest and largest vehicle to the HAVA cause will be an opportunity for our U.S. based employees and dealers to share in the pride of making a difference in the lives of dozens of America’s military heroes. Our nearly 8-year association with the HAVA team has been gratifying for all as the organization has grown, and we are always looking for more ways to help. We felt that donating the full-featured Viking 6-seat vehicle was a great way to demonstrate our on-going commitment to those who have sacrificed so much for freedom.”
In 2015, the new HAVA Viking VI vehicle will see service on hunts in Washington, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas in support of the disabled men and women that HAVA’s shooting and outdoor industry sponsors are pledged to repay for their service.
For more information, please visit www.honoredveterans.org and www.yamaha-motor.com.