Unofficial 3rd ANNUAL FISHMAS GIVING BACK THREAD

[slonezp]

It's that time of year again slonezp has teamed up with @Siebert Outdoors to raise money for a charity. This year I chose Take A Vet Fishing. https://www.takeavetfishing.org/  With all the unrest around the world and Veterans Day just a few weeks ago, I felt this would be fitting. I know many of you here are veterans. I thank you for your service. I have a heavy heart right now for the men and women currently stationed in Europe and the Middle East, and pray they make it home. 40+ soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice in recent weeks.

For the men and women that do make it home from war, many need help feeling normal again in society. A good friend of mine did 3 tours in Iraq after 9/11. I've seen his PTSD improve quite a bit over the last 15 years. He still has nightmares to this day. 

I'm going to send a message to the charity and see if they will register here and post a little more about what they offer to our veterans.

 

Anyway, here's the link https://gofund***35ad1b70

This will run from the time of this post until midnight December 31st. It is open to BR members only. I will pick a winner at random the first week of January and they will contact Mike Siebert. He will handle everything after. The cost of shipping the baits is the winners responsibility.

 

Minimum donation is $5 with no maximum. I set the goal at $1000 dollars again as we have hit that number the last 2 years. The funds will be sent directly to the charity thru gofundme.

That donation, no matter the dollar amount gets you 1 chance to win $50 in Siebert baits. Donating more than once does not get you more than 1 chance.

After the donation is made, send me a PM with the name used to make the donation

  

[slonezp]

Guys/gals, Mike Siebert will cover the cost of shipping. BONUS!!! 

[slonezp]

Its's Giving Tuesday and your turkey hangovers should be over. Let's get the ball rolling guys. We raised $1000 each of the past 2 years, lets make it 3 years in a row.

[TakeaVetFishing]

Hey Everyone,

I'm Jay Garstecki (President/Co-Founder) of Take a Vet Fishing, NFP. THANK YOU for selecting our nonprofit organization for your holiday giving campaign!

Take a Vet Fishing is a nonprofit organization that takes our US Military Veterans (who are struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress) - out fishing. We hosted (8) "Day of Giving Back" events in 2023! Each event includes 40-75 Veterans on 25-50 "guide boats" (Volunteers who are willing to donate their boat, gas and time to take a veteran fishing for a few hours). Our events are held in:

• Madeira Beach, FL - 2 Events per year
• Fox Chain, IL. - May
• Madison Chain, WI - June
• Mille Lacs, MN - August
• Lake Minnetonka, MN - September
• Lake Charlevoix, MI - September
• Eagle River Chain, WI - October

We are planning on adding a "Gull Lake, MN Event" in 2024!

In addition, we provide the financial resources for veterans and their family members to receive TREATMENT for PTS.

You can learn more about our organization by visiting our website at www.TakeaVetFishing.org

We will have our 2024 events loaded for sign up before the end of the year!

Everything is 100% FREE for our veterans!

 

[flyfisher]

Definitely a great cause if you have the ability to give a little, please do so.  @slonezp thanks for spearheading this cause each year.

[slonezp]

Going to sweeten the pot here. A very generous ex BR member is donating to the cause. Along with @Siebert Outdoors jigs, the winner will also get these. He will throw in a mystery kicker as well.

[Johnbt]

Donation made.

 

Do me a favor and don't include me in the drawing. I'm an old retired guy with too much stuff to lug around already and more due to be delivered by 9 tomorrow night.  

[slonezp]

Shameless bump

[slonezp]

Eric and James, If you want to be part of the drawing, please PM me 

[slonezp]

We've received 7 donations so far with only 2 members opting in on the raffle. More baits to be added soon. 

I know you all are busy getting yourselves ready for the holidays. Please take 5 minutes to help out a great organization and a chance to win some exceptional baits

 

@roadwarrior I never received your donation.

[slonezp]

More baits added to the kitty. This is the Fishmas loot I received. I ran it by the sender and made sure he was ok with me adding it to the cause. We've got to be over $100 in baits to the random winner. Minimum donation is $5

[slonezp]

We're up to 9 donations for $270.00, let's keep it going. Odds are pretty good right now for the winner as, of the 9 donations, only 4 want to be included in the raffle. Included as of today, @clayton86

@flyfisher

@roadwarrior

and @papajoe222

[slonezp]

@WaskaCrank12 added

@12poundbass added

[12poundbass]

Only a few days left to donate to this good cause. Let’s help take our vets fishing!

 

[WaskaCrank12]

This is a wonderful time of the year to spend with family/friends. 

We have the freedom to travel and spend this time due to the commitment/sacrifice of our Vets.

If you have the means and are compelled to do so -- please consider a donation to the Take a Vet Fishing cause.

Wishing each of you good health, safe travels and positive days ahead. 

[slonezp]

Alright everybody, 5 days left. I've decided to sweeten the pot a little bit more. 2 packs of Kalin's Sizmic Shad which is what I use as a trailer on @Siebert Outdoors swim jigs, a pack of Kalin's Lunker Grubs, which can also be used with swimjigs, and a pack of Blackhawk Custom Baits creature bait. Your donations are going to a great cause.

And for all you southern folks that have never heard of Kailin's baits, they are a staple bait in the Great Lakes and Midwest for smallmouth bass and walleye. 

[slonezp]

@clayton86 @flyfisher @roadwarrior @papajoe222 @WaskaCrank12 @12poundbass

 

Let's get the word out in your other posts. 3 days left. We're at $320 of our $1000 goal. Lot's of great baits and a great cause to boot. 

Anyone who made an anonymous donation, that I didn't mention, and wants to be included in the raffle, send me a PM.

[slonezp]

@BigAngus752 is now in

[slonezp]

The raffle ends at midnight tonight. Here is the list of participants wanting to be included in the raffle, in no particular order. If you did donate, want to be included, and I missed you, please send me a PM

@BigAngus752, @clayton86, @flyfisher, @roadwarrior, @papajoe222, @WaskaCrank12, @12poundbass

Again, minimum donation $5 with no max. 100% of the proceeds are going to Take-A-Vet Fishing. Prizes include $50 in @Siebert Outdoors baits of your choice, the Xcalibur baits, shown above, being donated by an X-BR member, and the baits, shown above, I have thrown into the pot. 

[12poundbass]

No brainer all around!

[slonezp]

The raffle is officially closed. Unfortunately, we missed our charity goal. I will leave the GFM page open for a few more days just in case there are any stragglers here who want to donate to the charity. 

 

I will get the winner picked later today. Good luck all

[slonezp]

AND THE WINNER IS.....

The control

The final

Congratulations @WaskaCrank12

 

Send me a PM with your name and address and contact Mike @Siebert Outdoors about your custom bait order.

Thanks again to everyone that participated. Again, the GFM page will stay open a couple more days for any of you so inclined to donate to Take-A-Vet Fishing.

[slonezp]

Thanks all. The GFM page is now closed

[slonezp]

Better late than never. This will be year number 3 that a very generous BR member who choses to remain anonymous, has topped off the donations. We reached our $1000 goal.

 

Thank you sir. Thank you. 

[TakeaVetFishing]

You guys (and Gals!) are THE BEST!!!

THANK YOU!!!

PLEASE understand that 100% of this donation is going to pay for a veteran to get TREATMENT for Post-Traumatic Stress!!

You LITERALLY will be changing someones life forever!!

We (seriously) had a female veteran reach out to us YESTERDAY asking for help... She's currently struggling and didn't know where to turn... I'm SO HONORED that there are people like YOU who will help us get this veteran the HELP she DESERVES - to "make tomorrow better than today"!

I cannot "Thank You" enough!!

We hope to show our appreciation by offering a few items to those who donated.

MUCH APPRECIATED!!

Jay Garstecki

Co-Founder/President

Take a Vet Fishing, NFP