FUJIFILM PRO ANGLERS TO HELP EDUCATE SCHOOL CHILDREN
ABOUT FISHING, CONSERVATION
January 17, 2005
CLEWISTON, Fla. — On Friday select members of Fujifilm’s
pro-fishing team will visit Central Elementary School in Clewiston
to meet with an assembly of fifth-grade students. The anglers will
talk about the family-friendly sport of fishing and the importance
of conservation. The team will be in Clewiston for the Wal-Mart FLW
Tour event on Lake Okeechobee that takes place Wednesday through Saturday.
A goal of the visit is for the children to gain an appreciation of
the environment by learning about conserving fish habitats and being
respectful of nature. The anglers will take this opportunity to educate
the students about why more than 52 million people pick up their rods
and wet a line each year – because fishing is a fun, wholesome
activity the entire family can enjoy. They will talk about life as
a pro angler and give the children a chance to ask questions. The
visit is tailored to introduce the next generation of anglers to the
wonderful world of fishing.
Fujifilm’s pro team, which includes some of bass fishing’s
most successful anglers, has had a consistent presence in the communities
that have hosted Wal-Mart FLW Tour events during the last five years.
The team has made several appearances in local grade schools and children’s
hospitals on the tournament circuit, encouraging children to get involved
in the lifelong sport of fishing.
“Fujifilm is proud to sponsor a winning team of anglers,”
said Cindy Bogan, national account manager, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A.
Inc. “With their influence and guidance, we feel strongly that
our team will educate kids about the fun of fishing and the importance
of conservation, while inspiring the next generation of anglers and
photographers.”
Fujifilm will offer another opportunity for children of all ages to
learn more about fishing during the Wal-Mart FLW Tour’s Family
Fun Zone, which is free and open to the public. Fujifilm will set
up a fishing pond for children to catch trout, have their photos taken
with their catches and then release the trout back into the pond.
The Fun Zone runs from 3-5 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
It will be set up at the Wal-Mart Store located at 1005 W. Sugarland
Highway in Clewiston.
Outside the tournament, Fujifilm also takes an active role in motivating
children to fish, photograph and release. For the past four years,
Fujifilm has sponsored the “Fish, Photograph and Release”
(FPR) program to promote and encourage kids and their families to
fish, take a photograph of the catch, and then release the fish back
into the water.
“The success of the Fish, Photograph and Release program demonstrates
Fujifilm’s commitment to and support of fishing while also incorporating
the fun of photography,” Bogan said.
The 2005 Fujifilm pro-angler team comprises Randy Blaukat of Lamar,
Mo.; Robert Bogan of Farmington, Ark.; Scott Bonnema of Forest Lake,
Minn.; Brent Brady of Hixson, Tenn.; Joel Richardson of Kernersville,
N.C.; Sean Stickler of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Shawn Strader of Rockwood,
Tenn.; Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn.; Sam Swett of Covington,
La.; and Wes Thomas of Hanover, Ind.
Established in 1965, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc. is the United States
marketing subsidiary of Tokyo-based Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd., a leading
manufacturer of imaging and information products. Fujifilm’s
U.S. headquarters are located in Elmsford, N.Y.
For more information on FLW Outdoors and its tournament programs,
visit FLWOutdoors.com
or call (270) 252-1000.
Wal-Mart and many of America’s largest and most respected companies
support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on
as title sponsor of the FLW Tour in 1997 and today is the title sponsor
of all FLW Outdoors events. For more information on Wal-Mart, visit
Wal-Mart.com.