While many “special edition” firearms are nothing more than a marketing gimmick, on occasion certain manufacturers step up to the plate and ply their craft for worthy charity causes.  One such manufacturer is Henry Repeating Arms.  Recently, they have donated 54 rifles to benefit a medical fund for a junior volunteer firefighter who needs a heart transplant.  The rifles appear to be their H001T Lever Action Octagon model, in .22s/l/lr with a 20″ barrel.  Per Henry:

Joe Petrucelli (L), Owner of Tri-County Sporting Goods, presenting check for $70,000 to Joshua Brennan and his family (C) with Anthony Imperato (R), President of Henry Repeating Arms.

American Gun Manufacturer Helps Raise Over $70,000

For Sick 14-Year-Old Volunteer Firefighter

BAYONNE, NJ, October 9, 2017– Henry Repeating Arms of Bayonne, NJ and Rice Lake, WI designed 54 custom Henry Lever Action Octagon rifles to help raise funds for 14-year-old Joshua Brennan of New York who was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome before he was even born. 24 of these rifles were donated directly to the Firemen for Joshua Foundation, a 510(c)(3) organization, and the remaining 30 were purchased by Joe Petrucelli of Tri-County Sporting Goods who organized further fundraising efforts to benefit the charitable foundation formed in Joshua’s name.

For the past few years Joshua has served the emergency service community by volunteering at the Pawling Fire Department in Dutchess County, and while he is too young to fight fires he is a critical member of the department. Washing trucks, keeping the firehouse in good order, lending a helping hand in the kitchen, and attending special events are just some of the tasks that Joshua tends to, all stemming from his love for the department and his call to volunteerism instilled in him by his father Tom, who is also a volunteer firefighter.

Joshua Brennan suffered heart failure last year and has a pacemaker and two valves keeping him alive. He now needs a heart transplant.

In 2014 a similar partnership between Henry Repeating Arms and Tri-County Sporting Goods raised over $60,000 for 4-year-old Grayson Sutton of Sedan, KS who was battling Primary Pulmonary Hypertension and facing a series of costly surgeries.

President of Henry Repeating Arms, Anthony Imperato explains, “Tri-County Sporting Goods has always stepped up to the plate to help Henry with any of our Guns for Great Causes initiatives. When they told me about this great young man Joshua, and his battle, we instantly decided to reciprocate.”

The 54 special edition rifles are currently being sold through Tri-County Sporting Goods in Patterson, NY and all proceeds are going to benefit the Firemen for Joshua Foundation, which goes directly to Joshua and his family.

Petrucelli organized Firemen for Joshua Day at Tri-County Sporting Goods on September 30th where over 200 people from the local community came together to show their support. Joshua was nominated for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and he and his family were presented with a $70,000 check from the proceeds of the rifles sold to date along with donations from local businesses. Proceeds are expected to raise over $100,000 before the end of the year.

Serial number “JOSHUA001,” the first of 54 made is currently up for auction on GunBroker.com, item #705771173.

Tri-County Sporting Goods will continue to sell the Firemen for Joshua rifles while supplies last, as well as custom serial numbered Henry Heirloom rifles. Proceeds from these sales will continue to fund the Firemen for Joshua foundation. To purchase one of these rifles contact Joe Petrucelli at (845) 878-6084. General donations are being accepted here: https://www.gofundme.com/firemen-for-joshua.

For information about Henry Repeating Arms and its products visit www.henryusa.com.

About Henry Repeating Arms

Henry Repeating Arms is one of the country’s leading rifle manufacturers and top ten firearm manufacturers. Their company motto is ‘Made In America Or Not Made At All’ and their products come with an unlimited lifetime guarantee. Henry Repeating Arms was awarded the Stevie American Business Award for Customer Service. The company’s manufacturing facilities are in Bayonne, NJ and Rice Lake, WI with approximately 450 employees.

While I certainly do not begrudge a company the right to operate purely for profit, it always nice to see companies in the industry continue to step up and help with worthy causes.  This is the way companies should be active in the community if they choose to do so, rather than participating in the negative virtue signaling that pervades our society lately.  I applaud Henry Repeating Arms and Tri-County Sporting Goods for aiding this young man in his time of need, and wish him all the best.