Some children spend their days wishing they could grow up faster; some wish they could make their own rules while some want to go outside to play for five more minutes. Some children, however, just want a home where it’s safe to be a kid.
At the Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County, more than 3,500 children have found just that: a place to grow, both academically and socially, amid a promise of security and support.
Former UF quarterback and NFL player Doug Johnson attended the Boys & Girls Club in the 1980s, participating in its summer camp, after-school care and athletic programs – all experiences that tremendously impacted his life. Back in those days, the Club had significant community support and mostly benefitted kids who, like Johnson, grew up in stable homes with supportive parents.
However, after a faltering economy caused funding to drop, the Club now struggles to stay open. With a new focus on serving underprivileged kids who would otherwise come home to empty houses, the success of the Boys & Girls Club is more important than ever.
Johnson remembers how the Club made such a difference in his life and realizes its importance in the lives of all children, especially those who need the support that it provides; for this reason, he founded the Reeling for Kids Fishing Tournament in 2003.
“My goal was to raise awareness and to encourage people to support such a critical organization that was so important to me growing up,” Johnson said.
In the past 10 years, Reeling for Kids has raised more than $750,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County. The donations have helped enrich various Club programs and extended services to reach more children in the community. Without the Reeling for Kids tournament — the Club’s largest fundraising event — it is hard to imagine what additional challenges the Boys & Girls Club would be facing now, Johnson explained.
This year, the event planners hope to raise money to fund new additions to the Club’s facilities, which will provide aesthetic benefits while meeting heightened safety and security needs.
“These renovations will not only repair and modernize the existing facility but also equip the Club for additional offerings that allow us to serve even more children,” Johnson said.
For many children, the Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County is the only place they can turn to for a sense of stability and security. The directors of the Club hope that each child who enters will leave with the confidence to succeed and the ability to experience great opportunities in the future.
Help Kids Like Hunter
Hunter joined the Club a year and a half ago and his mother has seen a remarkable improvement in his independence and leadership skills. He was recently voted president of the Club by a jury of his peers and he gets to help with creating projects, running the store and coordinating events with the Club.
“Hunter’s drive to be part of the community and give back has become so strong that he has recruited me to volunteer with Rebuild Together and to get out and help the community in any way that I can,” his mother said. “He is more motivated than ever to excel in school and has very high hopes and dreams. The Boys and Girls Club has definitely been one of the best influences in his life.”
About the Saltwater Challenge
The Reeling for Kids Saltwater Challenge, which started 11 years ago as a one-day event with about 30 boats, has grown to become one of the largest saltwater fishing tournaments on the Gulf Coast. This year’s tournament, which will take place on June 13 and 14 in Steinhatchee, Fla., is expected to bring in 125 boats.
Reeling for Kids will also host a kick-off event one week prior to the tournament on June 5 at Touchdown Terrace, which will host more than 350 guests. The foundation’s fundraising goal is set to $150,000 to support the renovations.
The Reeling for Kids staff would like to thank its many sponsors, including W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractors, CPPI, Sun Kool Air Conditioning, Mirage Boats, Mercury and Swamp Head Brewery, Gainesville’s own brewery that will be partnering with the tournament for the first time this year. Guests can expect great fishing, prizes, food and entertainment, and — hopefully —some blue skies and sunshine.
Registration for the Reeling for Kids Saltwater Challenge is now open, and sponsorships are selling quickly, so don’t delay in your commitment. For all event and tournament information, please visit www.reelingforkids.com or contact Reeling for Kids Tournament Director Laura Javidi at 352-372-5342 or [email protected].