May 29, 2017
By Florida Sportsman Editor
Seven Children's Charities to Benefit from Annual Fishing Tournament
Captain Lamar Joiner Jr. releases a big tarpon for Welyn Waterhouse, 11 years old, in the 2016 Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament. Photo by Josh Olive.
The sixth annual Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament presented by Colombia Sportswear Company will take place on Saturday, June 10th at The Boca Grande Community Center and Gasparilla Island State Park. The annual fishing tournament features children ages fifteen years and under competing to catch and release the most tarpon within 3 hours. This year's tournament will include over 36 boats and captains, with nearly 150 kids.
The following charities will benefit from the tournament:
· Easter Seals Project Rainbow of Southwest Florida
· Lemon Bay Conservancy
· Moffitt Cancer Center's “Families First” Program
· Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital Music Therapy Program
· The Englewood Community Care Clinic
· The Island School
· Charlotte County School System S.T.E.M. summer camp
“This tournament is going to be another great example of kid's helping kids,” said Bill Klettke, Boca Grande Charities, Inc. Board Member. “We want to give them a fun and competitive event that encourages goodwill, education, sportsmanship and conservation of the region's rich tarpon fishing history and traditions.”
The registration fee is $1,000 per boat with all registration fees being donated to our charities. The typical cost for a boat and captain is $500. Please register before June 2nd, 2017. Interested participants can learn more and register at bocagrandecharities.org or contact Bill Klettke or Captain Sandy Melvin at contact@gasparillaislandkidsclassic.com.
In six years, the annual tournament has seen more than 700 kids participate and helped raise over $150,000 for children's charities and educational activities in the Southwest Florida region and this year's tournament is expected to raise more than $35,000.
About Boca Grande Charities, Inc.
Boca Grande Charities is a volunteer group of Boca Grande residents who commit their time to raising money and supporting children's related charitable and educational needs. The organization has been organizing the Gasparilla Island Kid's Classic as the primary fundraiser for the past six years. It places a focus on “Kids Helping Kids” and their educational programs. For more information about Boca Grande Charities, Inc. visit BocaGrandeCharities.org.
