NRPA and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation Announce Grantees for 2010 Take Me Fishing™ Initiative
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Take Me Fishing™ grant initiative. This year, NRPA awarded 70 agencies and organizations up to $5,000 for programs that will each serve a minimum of 2,000 youth by April 30, 2011.
Ashburn, VA (Vocus) August 17, 2010
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Take Me Fishing™ grant initiative. This year, NRPA awarded 70 agencies and organizations up to $5,000 for programs that will each serve a minimum of 2,000 youth by April 30, 2011.
NRPA’s Take Me Fishing initiative supports local park and recreation agencies and youth service organizations that work to connect young people ages 6 to 15 with nature and engage them in recreational boating and fishing. The goal of the initiative is to provide children and families with opportunities to participate in boating and fishing programs that will lead to continued participation in healthy outdoor activities, a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship, and an understanding of water and boat safety behaviors.
Since 2006, the program has reached more than 350,000 children and families. For the 2010 program year, NRPA awarded a total of $297,000 in grants to new and returning agencies, which will reach more than 140,000 additional children and families and increase program participation by more than 20 percent from 2009.
“The Take Me Fishing initiative makes it possible for agencies to connect tens of thousands of children each year to boating and fishing opportunities, generating powerful bonds to nature and the outdoors,” said NRPA CEO Barbara Tulipane. “Programs like this one are crucial as we strive to create future generations of active, healthy Americans who will take care of the environment long after we are gone.”
“With America’s youngsters spending hours a day on electronic media, it’s become more and more challenging to introduce them to the joys of the outdoors,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “We’re pleased to support NRPA as they work to connect youth with the outdoors and help create future boaters and anglers who will cherish and protect our outdoor spaces.”
The 2011 grantees are (alphabetically by city and state):
Elba Parks and Recreation Department – Elba, Ala.
El Centro Parks and Recreation Department – El Centro, Calif.
Fullerton Parks and Recreation Department – Fullerton, Calif.
Cordova Recreation and Park District – Rancho Cordova, Calif.
People for Leisure and Youth, Inc. – Santa Maria, Calif.
Commerce City Parks and Recreation Department – Commerce City, Colo.
Reunion Recreation Center – Commerce City, Colo.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools – Miami, Fla.
Ocala Recreation and Parks Department – Ocala, Fla.
Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department – Cumming, Ga.
East Point Parks and Recreation Department – East Point, Ga.
Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation Department – Gwinnett, Ga.
Clayton County Parks and Recreation/Reynolds Nature Preserve – Morrow, Ga.
Honolulu Botanical Gardens – Honolulu, Hawaii
Kama‘aina Kids – Kailua, Hawaii
Larry’s Casting Kids – Green Valley, Ill.
Harvey Park District – Harvey, Ill.
Joliet Park District/Pilcher Park Nature Center – Joliet, Ill.
York Center Park District – Lombard, Ill.
Forest Preserve District of Will County/Monee Reservoir – Monee, Ill.
New Lenox Community Park District – New Lenox, Ill.
Round Lake Area Park District –Round Lake, Ill.
Sterling Park District – Sterling, Ill.
Davenport Parks and Recreation – Davenport, Iowa
Scott County Conservation Board – Dixon, Iowa
Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department – Iowa City, Iowa
Johnson County Park and Recreation District – Lenexa, Kan.
East Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission – Baton Rouge, La.
Billerica Recreation Department – Billerica, Mass.
Baltimore City Recreation and Parks – Baltimore, Md.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources/Mitchell State Park – Cadillac, Mich.
Portage Parks Department – Portage, Mich.
Michigan 4-H Foundation/Kettunen Center – Tustin, Mich.
Buffalo Parks Department – Buffalo, Minn.
Fishing for Life – Minneapolis, Minn.
Three Rivers Park District – Plymouth, Minn.
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department – Saint Paul, Minn.
St. Cloud Park and Recreation Department – St. Cloud, Minn.
National Eagle Center – Wabasha, Minn.
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks – Jackson, Miss.
Tallahatchie County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism – Sumner, Miss.
St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation – Clayton, Mo.
Clinton Recreation and Parks Department – Clinton, N. C.
Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation – Fayetteville, N. C.
Oak Island Parks and Recreation Department – Oak Island, N. C.
Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department – Raleigh, N. C.
Englewood Recreation Department – Englewood, N. J.
Picatinny Arsenal Outdoor Recreation – Picatinny, N. J.
Town of Hamburg Recreation Department – Hamburg, N. Y.
Barack Recreation Center – Columbus, Ohio
Fremont Parks and Recreation Department – Fremont, Ohio
Hermiston Parks and Recreation Department – Hermiston, Ore.
Philly Youth Anglers Program (Collective Voices Youth Programs) – Philadelphia, Pa.
Spartanburg Parks Commission – Spartanburg, S. C.
Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department – Cedar Park, Texas
Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department – Corpus Christi, Texas
Fort Worth Parks and Community Services – Forth Worth, Texas
Houston Parks and Recreation Department – Houston, Texas
Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition – Houston, Texas
City of Missouri Parks and Recreation Department – Missouri City, Texas
Pasadena Parks and Recreation Department – Pasadena, Texas
Pearland Parks and Recreation Department – Pearland, Texas
White Settlement Parks and Recreation Department – White Settlement, Texas
Franklin County Parks & Recreation – Rocky Mount, Va.
Williamsburg Parks and Recreation Department – Williamsburg, Va.
City of Renton Community Services Department – Renton, Wash.
Yakima Greenway Foundation – Yakima, Wash.
Rock County Parks – Janesville, Wis.
La Crosse Parks and Recreation Department – La Crosse, Wis.
Prairie du Chien Parks and Recreation Department – Prairie du Chien, Wis.
When choosing the grant recipients, NRPA ensured a wide distribution between urban, rural and suburban areas, and placed emphasis on projects with the ability to provide opportunities for underserved populations and minorities.
In addition to the financial award, grant winners also receive: an Operation TLC2 Making Communities Safe volunteer management and national background screening tool kit, access to online educational opportunities through NRPA, the Take Me Fishing Event Planning Kit, and access to industry experts via “ask the expert” on Fishington (http://www. takemefishing. org/community/sn/users/create), TakeMeFishing. org’s social networking site.
For more information on NRPA’s Take Me Fishing initiative, contact Resa Kierstein at 703.858.2199 or rkierstein(at)nrpa(dot)org.
The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF helps people discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through national outreach programs including the Take Me Fishing™ campaign and Anglers’ Legacy™.
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 20,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.
For more information, visit www. nrpa. org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www. parksandrec-magazine. org.
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