FLW Foundation Volunteers Have a Big Impact on Youth

Thank you to all the Ambassadors that pitched in to help with Unified Fishing Derbies

For the past several years, the FLW Foundation has been working diligently on a mission to introduce young people to their local natural resources. One strategy employed by the Foundation is to host free youth fishing derbies across the country.

The program started during an FLW Tour event at Lake Okeechobee and has since grown to include a minimum of 24 events throughout the season. The fishing derbies have been hosted in conjunction with FLW Tour events since the beginning, but the program was able to quickly expand to include FLW Series events due to the generosity of FLW Series anglers who volunteered to be Ambassadors and get kids out fishing.

These selfless anglers volunteered to stay an extra night after tournaments just to make sure that the local youth had their chance to catch a big one. They’ve been instrumental in the success of the program, and the FLW Foundation would like to thank them for their passion toward youth fishing and the growth of the sport.

Here are the anglers who helped, along with a brief statement from each about why he chose to get involved in volunteering with the Foundation.

Rob Crane – Central Division

“I love passing my passion for fishing and the outdoors to the next generation of anglers. Teaching conservation and respect of our resources is imperative for the future of our sport.”

Jimmy Green – Southwestern Division

“As fishermen, we are addicted to the passion, and when you see a child smile and giggle the way they do – as we adults do – when they get a bite or catch a fish, that’s priceless to me. I feel at that moment we are helping our sport continue to grow.”

Chris Williams – Southeastern Division

“Fishing is a sport that everyone can enjoy, no matter age or athletic talent. My grandparents introduced me to it at a young age. I have been able to enjoy it for a lifetime. I hope that these children get to enjoy it the way that I have.”

Sergio Arguello – Western Division

“I was blessed to be exposed to fishing at a very young age and feel truly honored to be able to not only take kids fishing, but expose them to our world of tournament bass fishing. Thank you FLW and the FLW Foundation for all that you do for our youth and our sport.”

Justin Mounce – Northern Division

“I believe it is more important now than ever before to get kids outdoors and active, and to pass along all the things that were passed on to us. And that’s what makes this whole thing work.”

NOTE: Anyone interested in volunteering next season can contact FLW National Youth Director Scott Ellison at [email protected].