Project F.I.S.H. Endowment
Friends Involved in Sportfishing Heritage
An endowment to advance fishing and aquatic
resource education programs in Michigan
Today's
youth have more options than ever before on how to spend their free
time. In Michigan, as across the country, young people are involved in
sports, scouts, school clubs, and many other activities. Although some
of these activities may introduce young people to the great outdoors,
many do not. Traditional outdoor activities, such as fishing, are at
risk of not capturing the interest of today's youth. As young people's
interest in fishing wanes, certainly their involvement in protecting
fish, rivers, lakes and streams will decrease. Interests in Michigan's
fishes and the waters they inhabit must be kept strong in order for youth
to develop a sense of stewardship for aquatic resources.
Coordinated
through Michigan State University's Department of Community,
Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies (CARRS), Project F.I.S.H.
is a premier
aquatic resource education program in
Michigan, and looked at as a national leader by similar statewide
programs.
With trained adult
and
teen mentors throughout Michigan and in other states, kids of all ages
are experiencing the benefits of being on, in , and around the water,
in pursuit of the one that "won't get away". These volunteers work
within communities in many ways. They form family local family fishing
clubs, in and out of school programs, and create lasting partnerships
for habitat work in and out of the water. The bottom line is
" quality time for kids spent outdoors with a caring adult".
Fishing is more - much more - than wetting a line. It develops life
skills, long-term relationships, and responsible care and use of our
vital natural resources. With competition from fast-paced action
electronics, organized sports, and partental time constraints, fishing,
hunting, and other traditional sports are fighting an uphill battle
that needs your support.
Your generous contribution will allow for more training of volunteer
mentors, continued support of a statewide coordinator who works to
support these volunteers through partner networking, procurement of low
cost or giveaway supplies for instruction, and encouragement of
new long-term, continued contact education programs in communities all
over Michigan.
Help
us
make sure that Michigan's waters and the fishes that inhabit them are
protected for our children and future generations to come. Since the Project F.I.S.H.
Endowment is an endowment, your contribution will be invested,
with the interest income used to support the Project F.I.S.H. programs.
Michigan State University Department of Department of CARRS will
recognize all gifts to the Project F.I.S.H. Endowment. All donors will
be given credit and membership in the appropriate MSU donor recognition
club according to gift qualifications. All gifts to Michigan State
University are tax deductible on your federal taxes, and may qualify
Michigan residents for a Michigan Tax Credit.
If
financial support is something you cannot do, simply promoting this
program, offering time and assistance to a local volunteer, and
encouraging others to be part of creating future stewards are very
large contributions, as we are all part of this effort!
Please Print and mail
I want to invest in Michigan’s youth and natural resources.
Please accept my contribution of $ ______________ toward:
Project F.I.S.H. Endowment
Directly to the Project FISH Program for operational use.
No
Preference
Name ________________________________________
Company _____________________________________
Address _____________________________________
City ____________________ State____ Zip ________
Daytime Phone (____) _________________________
Evening Phone (____) __________________________
This is a joint gift with:
_____________________________________________ (name)
Enclosed is my check payable to:
Michigan State University.
Charge my ____ VISA ____ MasterCard
#____________________________________________
Expires on __________
Mail to:
Project FISH Endowment
Department of CARRS
Michigan State University
131 Agriculture Hall
East Lansing MI 48824-1039
517-355-0284 fax 517-353-9896