( CNN ) For another weekend , moviegoers will be glued to their seats , watching the grit and turmoil of Chris Kyle , the real-life character portrayed in `` American Sniper . '' But for Kyle 's widow , Taya , the blockbuster hit is all too real . Fortunately , she 's not alone . Friday , Taya was left searching for words after the nonprofit organization AmericanSnipers.org awarded her family $ 62,000 from its successful rifle raffle . The group auctioned off five rifles from its site . One of the rifles was a replica of the McMillan .338 Lapua sniper rifle that Kyle used in combat , which Taya signed . In a YouTube video captured at the 2015 SHOT Show in Las Vegas , Nevada , Taya addresses an applauding crowd after learning about the money raised for her family . `` I do n't know what to say . It 's been a bittersweet journey , obviously , and I do feel that Chris is with me , '' she says in the video . Why 'American Sniper ' is a smash hit . Brian Sain , the co-founder of AmericanSnipers.org , says it was important for him and the organization to show their support for Kyle 's family . `` I think America needs heroes like Chris . He was a diehard American , '' Sain said in an interview with CNN . Sain meet Kyle in 2009 and the two formed a friendship . They discussed working together to help raise money and gear for troops overseas through AmericanSnipers.org . In August , Sain organized a rifle raffle on the site as a way to continue that dream . The raffle ended on Thursday and the money that was raised was donated to Taya and her two children . Coming from a law enforcement background himself , Sain says supporting Kyle 's family is only natural . `` The whole community is a family . No one really understands what we do . '' `` Chris would have done this for me . '' Kyle was shot and killed February 2 at a gun range , alongside his friend Chad Littlefield . A Marine Corps veteran , Eddie Ray Routh , 25 , faces murder charges in their deaths . What people get wrong about 'American Sniper '
' American Sniper ' widow is left speechless after a nonprofit donates raffle proceeds to her charity . They raised $ 62,000 for Kyle 's family after showing off rifles on their site . In the accompanying video , ' Kyle says it has been a ` ` emotional journey ''