Press Releases
“We’re glad the Education Fund can support these grantees to continue to grow and engage Hispanic audiences, proving the water is open to everyone,” said RBFF President & CEO Frank Peterson,
ALEXANDRIA, VA (February 11, 2021) – The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) today announced the 2021 grantees for its George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund, the sixth round of grants since it launched in 2014. The funding will help 16 programs in eight states bring fishing and boating experiences and conservation education to Hispanic families.
The Education Fund awarded more than $106,000 in grants with all eight states fully matching the funds through their fish and wildlife agencies and partners. In total, the 2021 grantees will receive over $212,000 in funding.
“As the 2020 Special Report on Fishing details, Hispanics are participating in fishing at the highest rate on record,” said RBFF President & CEO Frank Peterson. “We’re glad the Education Fund can support these grantees to continue to grow and engage Hispanic audiences, proving the water is open to everyone.”
Grants were awarded to eight state agencies to sub grant to the following 16 local organizations:
California
- Cast Hope
- East Bay Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation
- Outdoor Outreach
- Reel Guppy Outdoors
- Sycamore Junior High School
- Trout Unlimited
- Tuolumne River Preservation Trust
Florida
Kansas
Maryland
Ohio
Oklahoma
Texas
Virginia
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 at takemefishing.org/educationfund.
About the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (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. RBFF's 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 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, as well as an embeddable Places to Fish & Boat Map to help their customers discover places to fish and boat near them.
###
