Beretta & SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award and Gala

9th Annual Beretta and SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award Gala

On Tuesday, January 30, 2024 Safari Club International (SCI) Foundation will hold the 9th Annual Beretta and SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award Gala in the Omni Nashville Hotel, Nashville, TN.

The award honors those unique individuals that represent the ultimate embodiment of the hunter-conservationist philosophy and contribute generously to conservation, education and humanitarian services efforts in both time and financial resources.
The award gala, SCI Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year, features an “Oscar-style” award ceremony, gourmet dinner, entertainment, and silent and live auctions featuring elite one-of-a-kind items.
The money raised will be used to fund SCI Foundation’s mission programs dedicated to wildlife conservation and outdoor education.

For more information on how to become a sponsor or purchase tickets, visit SafariClubFoundation.org or contact Kimberly Byers at kbyers@scifirstforhunters.org or (520) 798‐4891

Become A Sponsor

We invite you to become a part of the prestigious 2024 event by sponsoring or donating an item for our live or silent auctions. By supporting SCIF through your sponsorship or auction donation, your company will receive positive industry exposure though our media campaigns and event promotions as well as from the high-profile gala attendees.

Download 2024 Sponsorship Packet

2023 Award Winner

Mary Cabela Awarded Prestigious Beretta and SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award

Mary Cabela was born in Wyoming where small-game hunting with her brother provided the foundation of her passion for the outdoors. Nearby plains, mountains, and rivers blessed her with endless adventures. She attended high school in Sidney, Nebraska where she met the love of her life, Dick Cabela. Together, they explored the plains of Nebraska. Together, they raised nine children. Together, they founded one of the world’s best known outdoor companies. Together, they hunted the world. They shared a passion for God, family, and wild places. Those passions defined their lives and became one continuous adventure so interconnected they could not tell where one began or one ended. They understood God in their family, their family in the outdoors, and the outdoors in God.

Nearly all Mary’s efforts, time, and treasure have been given in one form or another to God, her family, and the outdoors. Love requires action and by simply taking her children and grandchildren hunting, she passed on the seeds for tomorrow’s conservationists. But because of her love, she did so much more as she continued to hunt, to give, to serve and to share her passions for conservation with others. Throughout her life, Mary was a strong supporter of many conservation organizations and initiatives. Her most recent focus was the transformation of The Cabela Family Foundation into one of the world’s foremost conservation foundations specializing in highly impactful projects that promise long-term sustainability.

Bold initiatives such as 24 Lions and 12 Cheetahs promise to restore and sustain large predators to wild areas where they once thrived, thus helping to ensure these iconic species always inhabit natural, wild landscapes.

Previous Award Winners

2022 Award Winner

Arturo J. Gutierrez, Sr. Awarded Prestigious Beretta and SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award

Arturo J. Gutierrez, Sr. was honored on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 with the prestigious Beretta & SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award for his efforts demonstrating extensive international hunting experience and a lifetime of commitment to wildlife conservation and outdoor education through volunteer service and philanthropy.

Arthur was born in Havana, Cuba in 1938. He came to Boston in 1957 and attended MIT where he earned Bachelors and Masters of Science Degrees in Civil Engineering. He lives in Boca Raton, Florida and has four children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In 1978 Arthur started The Gutierrez Company, a real estate development and construction company doing business in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. He retired in 2015. Along with his grandson and daughter, Arthur owns The Legends Ranch in Bitely, Michigan. In 2018 he built and opened The Gutierrez Wildlife Center on the grounds of The Legends Ranch to promote education regarding scientific, environmental and conservation of wildlife. The Center currently has over 2,800 animals with over 270 species and includes 35 SCI #1’s, 144 Top 10’s and 221 Top 20’s. Arthur began hunting at an early age with his father and uncle in Cuba and joined SCI in 1987. He is a life member of SCI, the SCI New England Chapter, the NRA as well as a member of the SCI Foundation Hunter Legacy Fund. His interest in SCI programs began in 1993, when, during his first trip to Africa, he shot the #1 Klipspringer. Since then, he has entered 614 record book entries and has collected numerous SCI World Hunting Awards including the World Hunting and Conservation Award.

2020: Brian and Denise Welker 2019: Byron and Sandra Sadler 2018: Ralph and Deb Cunningham

2020: Brian and Denise Welker

Brian and Denise Welker Awarded Prestigious Beretta and SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award

Brian and Denise Welker were honored on Tuesday, February 4^th 2020 with the prestigious Beretta & SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award for their efforts demonstrating extensive international hunting experience and a lifetime of commitment to wildlife conservation and outdoor education through volunteer service and philanthropy.

“It is my pleasure to welcome Brian and Denise Welker as this year’s recipients of the 6^th Annual Beretta & SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award,” said Warren A. Sackman, III, SCI Foundation President. “This prestigious award is given to those who have set the standard for supporting wildlife conservation, outdoor education and hunting around the world in both time and resources. The Welkers have dedicated themselves to passing on their legacy to the next generation of hunter-conservationists, having made a lifetime commitment to wildlife conservation, education and humanitarian services. As with our past recipients, we honor their continued dedication and commitment to the cause and especially their support of the Foundation’s mission and programs.”

Brian and Denise Welker Awarded Prestigious Beretta and SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award

Brian and Denise Welker were honored on Tuesday, February 4^th with the prestigious Beretta & SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award for their efforts demonstrating extensive international hunting experience and a lifetime of commitment to wildlife conservation and outdoor education through volunteer service and philanthropy.

The Welkers are active with SCI and SCI Foundation, with Brian currently serving on the SCI Foundation Board of Directors and on the SCI Record Book Committee as an African Sub-Chair. Denise was the 2017 Diana Award recipient, works on the International Wildlife Conservation Council (IWCC), and is involved with the NRA’s Women’s Leadership Forum and Ring of Freedom.

The Welkers have also contributed to children’s education in Africa through Peter Nalos’ African Children’s Schools (school building construction) and iThemba Trust sponsoring five children per year from grade school through high school, and support our Military, First Responders, and Wounded Vets in many ways. Both are proud SCI Life members and continue to enjoy hunting around the world.

Brian and Denise Welker were announced as the winners at the 6^th Annual Beretta and SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award elegant black-tie Gala held in the Tuscany Ballroom at the Peppermill Casino Resort, which was attended by more than 450 guests. As recognition of SCI Foundations highest award, they received an elegant trophy provided by Beretta USA and custom gold and sapphire award pins created by jeweler Madleine Kay.

The evening consisted of the “Oscar-style” award ceremony, gourmet dinner, elite live and, silent auctions and an exclusive after party. The “Conservation Around the World” themed event was emceed by J. Alain Smith, host of the Rugged Expeditions television show and featured auctioneer Yve Rojas, who helped raise money to support SCI Foundation programs through the sale of auction items generously donated by our auction donors.

Finalists for the 2020 award included Arturo J. Gutierrez, Sr., Bela Hidvegi, Robert Model, Tom Snyder, and Gray N. Thornton – all of whom were eminently qualified to receive the award. This year’s finalists will automatically be eligible for next year’s award along with any future nominations.

Special thanks to the Beretta Family and Beretta USA for their continued support of this prestigious event.

2019: Byron and Sandra Sadler

Byron and Sandra Sadler Awarded Prestigious Beretta & SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award

Byron and Sandra Sadler were honored on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 with the prestigious Beretta & SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award for their efforts demonstrating extensive international hunting experience and a lifetime of commitment to wildlife conservation and outdoor education through volunteer service and philanthropy.

Over the years, the Sadlers have been extremely active with SCI Foundation, having held active leadership roles including positions on SCI Foundation’s Board of Directors, Education Sables and the HLF Board of Trustees. They have also been active in SCI, several local Texas SCI Chapters, the NRA, Ovis/Grand Slam, Wild Sheep Foundation and many other conservation organizations.

The Sadlers have made supporting education a lifetime commitment through their support of SCIF’s Education Sables and the American Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS) and feel blessed to have the opportunity to pass on their legacy to their children and grandchildren.

The Sadlers were announced as the winners at the 5^th Annual Beretta and SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award elegant black-tie Gala held at the Peppermill Casino Resort, which was attended by nearly 400 guests. As recognition of SCI Foundations highest award, the Sadlers received an elegant trophy provided by Beretta USA and custom gold and sapphire award pins created by jeweler Madleine Kay.

The evening consisted of the “Oscar-style” award ceremony, gourmet dinner, elite live and, silent auctions and an exclusive after party featuring a desert and coffee bar. The evening was emceed by J. Alain Smith, host of the Rugged Expeditions television show, and featured a Cirque theme.

Finalists for the 2019 award included Bela Hidvegi, Robert Model, Jim Shockey, Tom Snyder, and Brian & Denise Welker – all of whom were eminently qualified to receive the award. This year’s finalists will automatically be eligible for next year’s award along with any future nominations.

2018: Ralph and Deb Cunningham

Ralph and Deb Cunningham Win Prestigious 2018 Beretta and SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award

Tuesday, January 30, 2018, Ralph and Deb Cunningham were honored with the prestigious Beretta and SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award for their efforts demonstrating extensive international hunting experience and a lifetime of commitment to wildlife conservation and education through volunteer service and philanthropy. Over the years, Ralph and Deb Cunningham have contributed generously to Conservation, Education and Humanitarian Services efforts in both time and financial resources.

Deb is a native Texan who grew up in Texas. Ralph was born in Ohio and moved to Birmingham, Alabama at a young age and grew up there. Deb and Ralph are strong supporters of the NRA, giving generously of their time and resources. Deb is currently serving on the Executive Committee of the NRA Women’s Leadership Forum giving not only time but strong financial resources to preserve our rights to own and responsibly use firearms. Deb and Ralph are Lifetime Members of SCI and Ralph is a Past President of SCI. They are Founding Members of the SCI Hunter Legacy Fund and have served as Trustees of HLF since its inception. Deb and Ralph are Life Members of Houston Safari Club and both are Past Presidents. They have both been awarded Houston Safari Club’s highest honor – the HSC Frank Green Award, which recognizes outstanding commitment to service and contributions to hunting and wildlife conservation. Ralph and Deb have individually received the Houston Safari Club Outstanding Hunter Award. Deb has served as Chairman of the HSC/Dan L. Duncan Scholarship Award since it was established in 2010 and Ralph and Deb have continued as Legacy Sponsors each year since then helping raise thousands of dollars for students studying wildlife conservation and education.

They are members of Shikar Safari Club and have served as Convention Chairs helping raise a million dollars for wildlife conservation and education. Ralph has served as President of Shikar Safari Club and is a member of the Shikar Safari Club Past Presidents Committee. Ralph is currently serving as a Director of the SCI Foundation. Deb serves as an Advisor for the SCI Foundation Board and serves on the SCI Record Book Committee. Deb is co-chair of the SCI World Hunting Awards Committee and co-chair of the SCI Young Hunter Award. Deb received the SCI Diana Award in 2002 and serves on the SCI Diana Committee. Ralph received the SCI Hall of Fame Award in 2012. Ralph and Deb are Life Members of the SCI Sables and are sponsors of teachers attending AWLS. They are co-sponsors of the Diana/AWLS Cabin project.

Deb and Ralph are longtime supporters of the SCI World Hunting Award Program and they have each achieved the World Hunting Award Ring and the World Hunting and Conservation Award thus contributing thousands of dollars to wildlife conservation and education. Deb serves on the Advisory Board of USSA, and Deb and Ralph have been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from USSA recognizing their service and strong financial support.

Ralph has worked in the oil, gas, and fertilizer industry for fifty years while pursuing with Deb their passionate quest for hunting excellence worldwide. He and Deb have a lifetime commitment both with their time and resources to wildlife conservation, education and hunter’s rights and feel blessed to have the opportunity to pass on their legacy to their children and grandchildren.

As recognition of the award, the Cunninghams received an elegant trophy provided by Beretta USA and a custom gold and sapphire award pin created by jeweler Madleine Kay.

Ralph and Deb Cunningham were announced as the winner at the 4^th Annual Beretta and SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award elegant black-tie Gala which was attended by over 400 guests. The evening consisted of the “Oscar-style” award ceremony, gourmet dinner, elite live and, silent auctions, emcee J. Alain Smith host of the Rugged Expeditions television show and featured a Masquerade Ball theme.

Finalists for the 2018 Award included Mary A. Cabela, Robert Model, Byron & Sandra Sadler, Tom Snyder, and Howard K. Vincent – all of whom were eminently qualified to receive the award. This year’s finalists will automatically be eligible for next year’s award along with any future nominations.

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