Because Every Kid Deserves A Chance

Bob Hodges founded the Take A Kid Fishing Foundation, Inc. 19 years ago with one goal in mind: to provide an opportunity for the disadvantaged and disabled youth of North Carolina to enjoy saltwater fishing off the coast of Morehead City while teaching them about conservation and our ocean environment. Hodges’ vision has grown exponentially from 35 children in 1988 to 1,000 children in 2006.

As Take A Kid Fishing has grown, so has its budget and need for volunteers. With an annual cost of $55,000 and 1,000 children to accommodate, contributors and volunteers alike are the lifeline of this Foundation.

Take A Kid Fishing cannot express how grateful and appreciative we are for all of our volunteers, contributors and head boats that support our program and Because Every Kid Deserves A Chance change the lives of our children forever by giving them a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Since Take A Kid Fishing is solely financially supported by donations, it is organizations like The Swansboro Rotary Club that keep this Foundation alive.

Members of the Swansboro Rotary work diligently to not only raise funds, but provide facilities and host events in order to continue its partnership with Take A Kid Fishing. We are forever indebted to the Swansboro Rotary Club for the support they pro- Every Kid Deserves a Chance vide in order to give our children a once in a lifetime opportunity.

If you would like to find out more about Take A Kid Fishing please contact Teresa Holcombe at 252-808-8303, P.O. Box 1191, Morehead City, NC 28557 or visit our website at www.takf.org.

Swansboro Rotary Club sponsors a variety of fund-raisers each year. In addition, the club works on projects when called upon in order to benefit the community and beyond.

Oyster Roast: This event feeds and entertains well over 1,400 fun-seeking, hungry folks. To stage a project of this magnitude in a single day requires extensive pre-planning and many volunteer workers on the day of the event. To help alleviate “the cry of the hungry,” additional oyster steamers are on the way. Chairmen for the event are David Barfield and Billy Farrington.

Foundation Auction: With all proceeds dedicated to the Swansboro Rotary Foundation, the auction, along with the annual pig cook-off, allowed the club to retire the mortgage on the civic center much earlier than projected.

Chairman is John Ritchie.

Fishing Tournament: Serious prize money helps make the annual King Mackerel/Bluewater Fishing Tournament a huge Memorial Day success. This is the largest and most profitable of the club’s fund-raisers. The fishing tournament committee is working to further publicize and enlarge this prestigious event. Chairmen are Jim Davis and Stukie Payne.

Last Out Drawing: Clearly the social event of the year, the Last Out Drawing continues to sell out very early. Lured by fun, good food and the chance of winning big money, this project has a ready-made following. Chairmen are Robin Comer, Greg Maready and Jeff Hunt.

Road Race: Held in conjunction with the annual Mullet Festival, the 5K Great Mullet Run has grown to more than 200 runners.

Proceeds from this project are shared with area high school track and cross-country teams for their help and participation. Chairmen are Woody Warren and Jimmy Williams.

Scholarship Program: Begun in 1979, well over $500,000 has been awarded to graduating seniors from area high schools. The club recently made a significant financial commitment to this program by increasing the annual scholarship budget to $40,000, beginning in 2008. This commitment allows the club to immediately begin awarding 10 $4,000 scholarships each school year. Chairman is Wes Mobley.

Caring for Kids: For this project, club members, family and friends take needy children Christmas shopping for a day. This year, the club budgeted $4,800, allowing it to host 30 children for shopping fun. Community friends and hosts also provided additional funding for this project. Chairman is Scott Chadwick.

Take A Kid Fishing: Along with financial commitments to this non-profit organization, the club annually hosts more than 50 underprivileged youths to hot dogs, hamburgers and all the trimmings following a day of fishing.

Chairman is Jim Davis.

Cancer Benefits: Responding to a request to benefit yet another young mother with breast cancer was the primary reason for this community project. The club procured, cooked and prepared barbecue for a fund-raiser. All told, proceeds topped $55,000.

Hurricane Relief Fund: Over the years, the Rotary Club has worked tirelessly to assist hurricane victims.

During Hugo’s aftermath, club members spent\ two weeks in South Carolina feeding victims and donated\ 14 generators. After Floyd, the club organized\ 36 trailers full of relief items over a two-week period.

Following Isabel, the club raised $13,500, matched by an anonymous donor, to purchase new mattresses.

Most recently, the club donated $1,800 for stormravaged Floridians this past fall.

Interact Club: Sponsored by Swansboro Rotary, the Rotary Interact Club of Swansboro High School has flourished. Along with their own projects, the club members have been a mainstay at Swansboro Rotary’s major events. In addition, the club sponsors four students who attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards function.

International Efforts: Over the years, the club has supported world peace and understanding through various international efforts, including hosting and sponsoring Group Study Exchange teams.

This year, in partnership with its sister club in Ciudad Del Cormen, the Swansboro club contributed to the purchase of a fire truck for Campecje, Mexico.

The club also donated to a clean water and housing project in the city.