RBFF Awards George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund Grants to 16 Programs in 8 States
Grantees will provide Hispanic families with fishing and boating experiences and education
The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) today announced the 2023 grantees for its George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund, the eighth round of grants since it launched in 2014. The funding will help 16 programs in eight states bring fishing and boating experiences as well as conservation education to Hispanic families. Over $109,500 in grants were awarded with state agencies fully matching that amount to bring the total funding to approximately $221,000 for the grantees.
While Hispanic participation in fishing and boating has grown tremendously in the last decade, only one in 10 anglers identify as Hispanic,” said RBFF President & CEO Dave Chanda. “As we work to foster further participation within the Hispanic community, these grantees will be vital in providing the skills and knowledge needed to enjoy fishing and boating for years to come.”
Grants were awarded to eight state agencies to sub grant to the following 16 local organizations:
California
Colorado
Florida
Fishing's Future - Reel Blessed Chapter
Manatee County Natural Resources Department
Miami-Dade Parks Recreation and Open Spaces - EcoAdventures
Pasco County Parks Recreation and Natural Resources
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
Partnership for Providence Parks
South Dakota
Augustana University
Texas
Virginia
Harrisonburg City Public Schools
About RBFF
The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. To help recruit, retain and reactivate participants, RBFF developed the award-winning Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ brands which educate the public on fishing, boating and conservation while inspiring them to hit the water. RBFF offers consumer research, website plugins, marketing education and shareable content to help better connect industry stakeholders and government agencies with their customers.
About the George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund
The George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund was created by RBFF in 2014 when Bass Pro Shops Founder and CEO Johnny Morris donated $125,000 in honor of his friend, the late President George H.W. Bush, to bring conservation education and fishing experiences to Hispanic families in key metro areas of Texas and Florida. With the continued funding support of Bass Pro Shops and donations from other companies, the Education Fund has expanded nationally to educate and engage Hispanic and multicultural audiences throughout the United States in boating and fishing with the support of RBFF’s Vamos A Pescar™ Hispanic outreach initiative. Learn more about the Education Fund and how you or your organization can donate here.
For further information: Bruna Carincotte, bcarincotte@rbff.org, 703-519-6917