NEW YORK FEDERATION CHAPTER RAISES MORE THAN $ 8,000 TO BENEFIT VETERANS
The New York TBF chapter has had to wait a bit longer than the Florida federation to kick off its tournament season , but some of its members still came together recently for an important cause . New York TBF and the Bergen Bassmasters sponsored a booth at the Empire State Outdoor Sportsman ’ s Show from Feb . 29-March 3 , where they held a charity auction to benefit veterans .
New York TBF volunteers handing out Dick ’ s Discount Coupons . ( L to R ) John Hart , Bob O ’ John , Tom Luciano ( President NYTBF ) and Nick Albano .
Nick Albano , president of the Bergen Bassmasters and secretary for the New York federation , said the auction raised $ 8,180 . The proceeds were split 50-50 between the Wounded Warrior Project and Tunnels to Towers .
Albano , a veteran himself , has put on a charity auction and hosted benefit tournaments through his club since 2009 , but this year , he took it up a notch , raising money for two organizations instead of one . Sponsors donated products for the auction , such as a Humminbird Helix 7 unit and a pair of combos from Favorite Fishing , and 12 renowned local anglers offered day-on-the-water experiences . Those included excursions with three-time IGFA world-record holder Burnie Haney ( on Lake Ontario ) and two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Ed Cowan ( on a private Pennsylvania lake ), plus saltwater trips and more .
Albano stressed that 100 percent of the proceeds went to the two charities , with volunteers staffing the booth to minimize overhead .
“ We also promoted our state federation with applications , but we didn ’ t make any money for our state ,” Albano said . “ We just made money for the two organizations . We ’ re fundraising , not for us , but for the two organizations .”
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR HIGH SCHOOL FISHING WORLD FINALS
It ’ s time to register for the biggest high school fishing event of the year , the High School Fishing World Finals . The no-entry-fee tournament will be contested in conjunction with the Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship on South Carolina ’ s Lake Hartwell June 19-22 .
While National Championship participants must qualify via their finishes in Student Angler Federation events , the World Finals is open to all SAF members . All teams are guaranteed at least three days on the water . Between the two events , more than $ 3 million in scholarship money and prizes will be up for grabs .
Arizona teammates Jeff Giffen and Dylan Mladick took home the hardware at the 2023 High School
Fishing World Finals on the Mississippi River .
Contact TBF : Send us your club stories . If you have a question or want to know more about TBF , which is YOUR organization , drop us a line at FAQ @ bassfederation . com . Above all else , thank you for being a member of The Bass Federation .
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