Grants Established To Help Hispanic Families Enjoy The Outdoors
The following press release is courtesy of the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation:
Today, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and the George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund announced the grantees for 2018, marking the third round of grants for the Education Fund. The grantees will work to bring fishing, boating and conservation experiences and education to Hispanic families in six states.
A total of almost $160,000 in funds will be provided for 15 fishing and boating programs in California, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Virginia, including nearly $78,000 in grant funds from RBFF’s George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund. The six state agencies are fully-matching the grant funds, effectively doubling the funds for the 2018 grantees.
“The future of fishing and boating depends on engaging younger, diverse audiences. We’re happy to provide such an amazing opportunity to help organizations in reaching the Hispanic market,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “And with state agencies matching the funds, the impact of each program is effectively doubled.”
Grants were awarded to six state agencies to sub grant to the following 15 local organizations:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
“Emerging audiences, like Millennials and Gen X-ers are increasingly diverse, and the Hispanic population is expected to reach 65 million individuals by 2020,” added Peterson. “With this in mind, it’s imperative that our industry reach out to and include the Hispanic audience in marketing messages, communications and imagery.”
In 2014, Bass Pro Shops Founder and CEO Johnny Morris donated $125,000 to RBFF to start an Education Fund in honor of his friend, President George H.W. Bush’s 90th birthday. Soon after the George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund was launched, other companies have come on board with their financial support. The Education Fund carries out its mission of engaging Hispanic families across the United States in fishing and boating through hands-on experiences and conservation activities.
More information about the George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund is available at takemefishing.org/educationfun
