Press Releases
ALEXANDRIA, VA (February 12, 2020) – The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) announced the 2020 grantees for its George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund, the fifth round of grants since the Education Fund launched in 2014. The funding will help 16 programs in 12 states bring fishing and boating experiences and conservation education to Hispanic families.
The Education Fund awarded more than $100,000 in total grant monies to 16 fishing and boating programs in 12 states. With matching grant funds being put up by state fish and wildlife agencies and partners in each of the 12 states, the total amount of funding will come to approximately $205,000 for the 2020 grantees.
“According to the 2019 Special Report on Fishing, Hispanics are participating in fishing at a record-setting level,” said RBFF President & CEO Frank Peterson. “Better yet, members of this audience average more days on the water than their general market peers. This makes for a tremendous opportunity to engage the Hispanic audience and foster future generations of participants.”
Grants were awarded to 12 state agencies to sub grant to the following 16 local organizations:
California
Colorado
Florida
Idaho
Iowa
Nebraska
Nevada
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Virginia
The George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Fund was founded in 2014 when Bass Pro Shops Founder & CEO Johnny Morris donated $125,000 to RBFF to start an education fund in honor of his friend, the late President George H.W. Bush. The Education Fund has grown nationally through the continued funding support from Bass Pro Shops and donation from other companies. The mission of the Education Fund remains 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/educationfund. Learn more about how you or your organization can donate to the Education Fund.
About the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF)
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. RBFF's recently announced 60 in 60 effort strives to attract 60 million anglers to the sport by the end of 2021. To help recruit, retain and reactivate participants, RBFF developed the award-winning Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ campaigns creating awareness about boating, fishing and conservation, and educating people about the benefits of participation. These campaigns help boaters and anglers of all ages and experience levels learn, plan and equip for a day on the water. The campaign websites, TakeMeFishing.org and TakeMeFishing.org/es, feature how-to videos, information on how to get a fishing license and boat registration, and an interactive state-by-state map that allows visitors to find local boating and fishing spots.
About George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund
The George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund was created by RBFF with an initial donation of $125,000 from Bass Pro Shops Founder and CEO Johnny Morris to bring conservation, education and fishing and boating experiences to Hispanic families in key metro areas of Texas and Florida. With the help of similar donations from other individuals, companies and associations, the Fund will help 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.
