Vista Outdoor Foundation Donates to Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation
The $17,000 donation will help increase participation in recreational boating and fishing among Hispanic
ANOKA, Minn. — The Vista Outdoor Foundation (the “Foundation”), the philanthropic partner of Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO), and Simms Fishing Products, Vista’s Bozeman, Montana-based fishing brand, are proud to announce the recent donation of $17,000 to the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), a national, nonprofit organization that works to increase participation in recreational boating and fishing, thereby helping to conserve and restore the country’s aquatic natural resources.
The donation benefits RBFF’s George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund, a grant program that engages Hispanic families in fishing and boating activities. Since launching in 2016, the program has expanded to support 60 organizations with events in 20 states. And thanks to a 1:1 match from state fish and wildlife agencies, the donation from the Vista Outdoor Foundation was doubled.
“We are incredibly thankful for Vista Outdoor’s donation to RBFF’s George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar Education Fund, created to reach out and engage with local Hispanic communities,” said Dave Chanda, President and CEO of RBFF. “Hispanic participation in fishing has increased by 45 percent over the past decade, highlighting the importance of continued support to engage and support local Hispanic communities nationwide.”
Diane Bristol, Vice President of Culture & Community for Simms and President of the Vista Outdoor Foundation, presented the check to RBFF during a recent ceremony celebrating the organization’s efforts to diversify fishing and boating activities.
“As a member of the Vista Outdoor family of brands and longtime supporter of the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, it was my honor to present the team at RBFF with this donation,” Bristol said. “Having served on the RBFF board for almost six years, I have seen the fantastic outreach programs supported by the Vamos A Pescar Education Fund. This program is aligned with Vista Outdoors’s purpose to use the outdoors to bring people together and our purpose at Simms to help people have their best days on the water.”
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About Vista Outdoor Foundation
The Vista Outdoor Foundation is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt Delaware corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation supports non-profit partners and programs that seek to expand recreational access, encourage youth participation and diversity in outdoor sports, protect and conserve open space, and mitigate the effects of climate change. The Foundation’s Board of Directors is comprised of employees from Vista Outdoor Inc. who represent a broad cross-section of the company’s diverse portfolio of brands, outdoor activities and consumers. For more information, visit our website at www.vistaoutdoor.com/foundation.
About Vista Outdoor Inc.
Vista Outdoor (NYSE: VSTO) is the parent company of more than three dozen renowned brands that design, manufacture and market sporting and outdoor products. Brands include Bushnell, CamelBak, Bushnell Golf, Foresight Sports, Fox Racing, Bell Helmets, Camp Chef, Giro, Simms Fishing, QuietKat, Stone Glacier, Federal Ammunition, Remington Ammunition and more. Our reporting segments, Outdoor Products and Sporting Products, provide consumers with a wide range of performance-driven, high-quality and innovative outdoor and sporting products. As Vista Outdoor announced in 2022, the company is separating its Outdoor Products and Sporting Products segments into two independent, publicly traded companies. For news and information, visit our website at www.vistaoutdoor.com
About RBFF
RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase recreational angling and boating participation, 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 campaign to build awareness of boating, fishing, and conservation and educate people about the benefits of participation.
The campaign websites feature how-to-videos and an interactive state-by-state map that allows visitors to find local boating and fishing spots, helping boaters and anglers of all ages and experience levels learn, plan, and equip for a successful day on the water.
RBFF also offers its industry stakeholders many tools, including a Fishing License & Boat Registration Plugin to connect their customers with the information they need in just one click and an embeddable Places to Fish & Boat to help their customers discover places to fish and boat near them.
About Simms Fishing Products
Established in 1980, Simms is the preeminent manufacturer of waders, outerwear and technical fishing apparel and accessories. The full line of Simms gear is available at specialty and large format retailers across North America as well as www.simmsfishing.com
Media Contact:
Bruna Carincotte
bcarincotte@rbff.org