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Future Fisherman Foundation and American Sportfishing Association Support Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
by Mike Bolinder

April 3, 2006, Alexandria, VA?\The Future Fisherman Foundation, the education and recruitment arm of the American Sportfishing Association, on the invitation of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition provided a wide array of fishing tackle and accessories for a 13 year old boy—an avid angler—whose family had been chosen for a home makeover. Through the generosity of ASA’s sportfishing industry members, the Foundation provided thousands of dollars of equipment and accessories to the youth and his family. Viewers tuned in on Sunday night, April 2, to watch show host Ty Pennington and crew change the lives of a well deserving family by rebuilding and refurnishing their home.

“I want to express my deep appreciation and sincere thanks to ASA’s members who contributed so generously to this project,” said Foundation Executive Director Mike Bolinder. “It’s all about sharing the passion for fishing and this young man and his family will never forget the experience.”

Bolinder worked on-site with Makeover staff to design a fishing-themed bedroom, and also assisted with the construction of the new home. The Holmes family, of Altamonte Springs, Fla., had lost their house twice; once in Hurricane Charley and later by an electrical fire.

Bolinder traveled to Orlando in late February to present the donated equipment. Accompanying him was Jesse Simpkins, foundation Board chairman and Marketing Director, Plano Molding Company, Plano, Ill.

“I didn’t expect to be involved in the actual construction of the house,” said Bolinder. “The production team asked me if I was any good with a paintbrush, and the next thing I knew, I was painting fish.”

The foundation thanks these manufacturers and retailers who donated fishing tackle and accessories for the Holmes family: Plano Molding Company, Plano, Ill.; Rapala USA, Minnetonka, Minn.; Zebco/WCB, Tulsa, Oka.; Shimano American Corporation, Irvine, Cal.; TTI-Blakemore Fishing Group, Wetumpka, Ala.; G. Loomis, Woodland, Wash.; Strike King Lure Company, Collierville, Tenn.; Pure Fishing, Spirit Lake, Iowa,; Lurenet.com, Fort Smith, Ark.; AFTCO- Blue water, Irvine, Cal.; Guy Harvey Enterprises, Davie, Fla. and West Marine Group, Watsonville, Calif.

The Future Fisherman Foundation is the angler recruitment and education arm of the American Sportfishing Association, the recreational fishing trade association. The Future Fisherman Foundation unites the sportfishing industry with a nationwide network of state outdoor educators, national conservation groups and youth organizations, offering a variety of fishing and boating programs, equipment, and services to community groups and schools across the country. These efforts help people of all ages have safe and enjoyable fishing experiences that foster life-long conservation ethics.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA. The series is executive-produced by Tom Forman. The show airs Sundays (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET), on the ABC Television Network.