Lake of the Ozarks Shootout Donations Top $195,000

For Ron Duggan, the owner of Captain Ron’s in Sunrise Beach, Mo., and the lead organizer behind the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, it seems hard to believe that the top-speed event he took over in 2008 has raised nearly $1 million dollars in the nine years since Shooters 21 closed and the Lake Rescue Shootout—as it was called for the first 19 years—moved to another part of the Central Missouri lake.

During a recent meeting, Ron Duggan presented a $195,000-plus check to the Lake of the Ozarks charities. Photo by Al Griffin

This year, the 28th annual event pulled in a record-setting $195,253 to donate to 34 different organizations, including eight local fire departments. That’s $20,000 more than the event’s 2015 donation, and the nearly $200,000 donation, which Duggan expects to exceed next year, brings the grand total donated to local charities since 2008 to $943,000.

That’s a big number, one Duggan is proud of, but he said it’s all because of the tremendous amount of support the Shootout receives from sponsors, volunteers and the boating community who embraces it year after year.

“We’ve always known this event is beneficial for this community, but I never envisioned raising this kind of money when we took over,” said Duggan, who again gave credit to the event’s major sponsors. “The donations would be nowhere near this level without the many sponsors we have that donate anywhere between $2,500 and $50,000. The more they donate to the cause, the more money we’re going to give away, it’s that simple.

“I always say this, but the best part is seeing the looks on peoples’ faces when you present them with the checks,” he continued. “The donations are based on volunteer hours so it’s a great way for us to keep encouraging people to volunteer their time and keep their enthusiasm high.”

Editor’s note: Click the link to download your free copy of the latest issue of Speed On The Water magazine, which includes an extended feature on the 2016 Lake of the Ozarks Shootout.

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