To be the next to donate, call Captain Rich
561-740-7227
When you donate your boat, you are helping our students achieve their goals. All donated boats are worked on and cleaned by our students. They inspect each boat for weaknesses and problems and repair them as needed. In doing so, students not only learn and practice vital job-training skills but their volunteer hours earn them a coveted spot on one of our fishing trips as a reward for their hard work.
The Florida Fishing Academy is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization formed in 2006 for the purpose of empowering at-risk youth with positive life skills, alternatives to destructive or antisocial behavior and a sense of responsibility for shaping the world around them. FFA uses fishing as the vessel for delivering these lessons, weaving effective life, environmental and social skills into a youth-oriented, hands-on sports angling curriculum.
Donating your boat will yield the best possible tax benefits to you, the donor. Please contact a tax attorney to fully realize the potential tax benefits. Donating your boat will help our students, and you.
The academy would like to thank FFA Board Member Steve Gordon for donating his boat, a 2004 26-foot Century, for the academy’s uses.
In Memory of Chris Johnson
My name is Holly White. I recently saw a segment on the Nightly News regarding your organization. I was moved by the work you are doing and think that it is a wonderful and worthwhile thing. I was most moved because my fiancée, Chris Johnson, would have really approved and been excited by your work. Chris was an avid angler and loved his boat, a 32’ Pacemaker, more than he loved me…it’s okay because he knew her first. With Spring arriving here in New England I can’t help but think about how excited he would be to get out the “boat” stuff and begin the annual washing, polishing, compounding and waxing that dominated our March, Aprils and Mays for the past 8 years.
On October 1st of last year, Chris passed away from a massive heart attack. He was 42 years old and our wedding was scheduled for December 8th.
I recently received a check for $200.00 from some friends of ours, that was collected in Christopher’s name. I feel as if I can’t keep this money. I want to donate it to a cause that Chris would approve of, I believe that the Florida Fishing Academy definitely fits that bill. As much as he loved his boat, the ocean, fishing and all things about the sea…he loved kids just as much. He had often been told as a teen that he would not succeed in life, and spent every day proving those who told him so wrong. He believed that hard work and tenacity and a fair amount of arrogance would always lead to success. He also truly believed that everyone should know how to properly maintain a boat, that hard work builds character in kids and teens. I miss him every day, but I don’t miss cleaning his boat.
I would like to donate this small gift to your organization, but I want to do so in his memory.
In Memory of Dr. Andy Friedman
Andy’s dad, Sidney recently donated Andy’s boat to the academy. Andy passed away from a heart attack. Andy was a great man who took disadvantaged children on his boat and gave them a new opportunity to experience life on the water. We are proud to continue his legacy on his boat.
The Florida Fishing Academy inc. has a tax exempt status under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)3 and is formed as a public charity. We are qualified to receive bequests, devices, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the code. Your gift will be used for the benefit of the academy. Your gift is greatly appreciated. Please retain this document as receipt. We do not keep permanent records.
Contributions benefit Florida Fishing Academy, a not for profit tax-exempt organization. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF Florida Fishing Academy (CH 28464), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Florida Fishing Academy receives 100% of each contribution.
In memory of William Henry Krick
Bill passed away in 2012 while fishing in the Everglades. Bill was a 4th generation Floridian who headed directly for the ocean even before he could walk. Fishing was his earliest family activity; he was also mentored early in life by his uncles; George DeBay who ran the tackle store on the old Palm Beach Pier, and many other
"natives" of the older generation who fostered his love for the natural resources of our coastal paradise.
In high school he competed in free diving and spear fishing. He made and repaired his own rods. Our family recreation involved scuba, underwater photography, and saltwater aquariums. He always wanted to involve youngsters in every possible occasion. He truly believed it takes a village to raise a confident
child and instill good character.
So it is with a glad heart that I pass along so much of what Bill loved and considered important; to be used in the best possible way --- to benefit the next generation. I look forward to attending one of your events soon, meeting more of you in person and supporting your efforts in other ways.
Many thanks,
Cathy Krick
Jesse “Odell” Roberts peacefully left this life behind to joyfully join his savior and heavenly father early Monday morning, April 8, 2013 at his home in Parrish. Father, husband, grand and great grandfather, and friend to many, he will be adored forever and sorely missed by all who knew this gentle, loving man. A native of Manatee County and a graduate of Manatee High School’s class of 1955 where he played on one of the greatest football teams coached by his hero, Wheeler Leath, he lived his entire life in Bradenton and Parrish.
He joined the Bradenton Herald in 1955 as an apprentice printer, and advanced through his career to Press Operations Manager until his retirement in 1998. He valued his years in the newspaper industry, and worked a night job at the Tampa Tribune when the Herald was an afternoon newspaper.
In memory of Jesse “Odel” Roberts
In memory of Mark Jablonski