Bardstown company’s rifle raffle for Ellis family raises more than $62,000

This video image shows Kentucky Gun Co. owner Patrick Hayden, left, and gunsmith Bill Buckman finish packing the Henry Golden Boy II special edition .22 rifle, the grand prize in a raffle sponsored by the Bardstown business. The raffle raised more than $62,000 with participation in all 50 states. (Image courtesy of Ky. Gun Co. video).

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Monday, July 15, 2013, 10:30 a.m. — A raffle sponsored by the Bardstown-based Kentucky Gun Company to benefit the family of Officer Jason Ellis has raised more than $62,000 from donors in all 50 states.

In a YouTube video posted on the company’s website, owner Patrick Hayden called interest and participation in the raffle “staggering and humbling, to say the least.”

More than 12,000 chances were sold in the raffle for the Deluxe Henry Goldenboy II .22 caliber special edition rifle. The raffle raised a total of $62,400. The video shows Hayden signing the check destined for the Officer Jason Ellis Memorial Fund at Wilson & Muir Bank in Bardstown.

Hayden credited gun enthusiasts who wrote about the raffle in blogs, message board posts and Facebook pages.

Hayden also noted that many of the people who purchased chances also sent notes of support and prayers for the Ellis family. A portion of the six-minute video consists of Kentucky Gun Co. employees reading these messages, including Bardstown Police Officer Tony Satterly.

In the video, Hayden explained the idea for a raffle, which he said some people questioned. As an independent retailer, Hayden explained he and his employees wanted to do something to help in the wake of the community’s loss, but did not have the resources to make a large donation.

“But what we did have was a beautiful Henry rifle and a loyal customer database that touched all 50 states,” Hayden explained. “We took those two tools, combined them, and with your gracious help we raised a sizable sum of money for a family that is in need.”

The video shows Hayden and Bardstown Officer Bill Buckman (also a Ky Gun Co gunsmith) carefully packing the rifle for shipment to the winner. Hayden hands the package off to a waiting UPS employee whose truck is backed up to the company’s loading dock.

The raffle winner is a man named Dennis, a retired Atlanta police officer who now lives in Perry, Ga.

-30-