Our Mission

At the Standby to Fly Initiative, our mission is to honor and serve our Veterans by supporting non-profit organizations dedicated to those who have sacrificed to protect our freedoms. Through collaborative fundraising and volunteer efforts, we aim to diminish any barriers, empowering these organizations to provide vital services for our heroes.

The Standby to Fly Initiative is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization comprised of amazing individuals with the sole drive to raise funds to aid our veterans. 

It started in 2019 as a local benefit match to raise funds for The Windy Warrior Adrenaline Therapy Program, an affiliate of Maine Veterans Project that focused on providing adrenaline therapy to help Veterans struggling with PTSD overcome the daily struggles of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideations. We raised a little over $8,000 in the first year, which was enough to cover the remainder of their annual operating budget.

The annual 'Standby to Fly' Match quickly evolved, bringing in competitors and sponsors from across the country. In a few years we've raised nearly $350,000 in funds to benefit five amazing Maine-based nonprofit organizations and we're not slowing down anytime soon.

Along the way we've gained sponsors and volunteers that have supported the event since the beginning. Please visit the Sponsors section of our website to see the full list; the involvement of every single person/group/company/organization has made a big difference to our veteran community. Thank you. While we certainly appreciate all of our sponsors, we would be remiss if we didn't send a special thank you to Atlas Gunworks for being a team and kryptonite level sponsor, and to Hampden Rifle and Pistol Club for hosting the event and making investments to their facility to accommodate the match.  A special thank you as well to Targets USA, Hunters HD Gold, Mark VII reloading, Ready Nutrition, and First Breach for sponsoring our shooting team.