Help me help others!
This charity helps people who are disabled. We need $500+ to keep us legal and buy parts needed to build custome gear for disabled adults and kids. Every little bit helps so please help us help others.
Who we are and why we started this charity:
I am Jonathan DuBose and I am disabled due to several bone and joint diseases. Also I suffered two accidents that herniated several discs in my neck and back. As for my love of fishing, that started when I was very small. My Father was both a Captain and a marine mechanic. When I was about three I started going with him to work. I remember riding with him on his tug and reminding me not to lean over the rail. If there was a fish, I wanted to catch it. However because of my disability, fishing is very painful. The pain I always have can be amplified for days after just fishing for a short time. For many months I have tried to understand the effect that fishing has on my disability. I want to use this understanding to minimize the pain that is involved with fishing. Hopefully I will be able to fish for short periods of time without adding to my pain. I also want to use this understanding to modify tackle for others that are disabled. It is my hope that this will allow others to experience the joys of fishing as well.
I am Philip Watson and I have grown up fishing the Florida Gulf Coast. I am currently in school for Marine Mechanics in hopes of starting a mobile marine mechanics business. My ultimate goal is to one day become a Captain. Boating and fishing has always had a great importance in my life. For me, the water is a place of peace and beauty. I have high hopes of spreading that peace to those who could greatly benefit from it. I believe that having a disability should not hinder any person from being able to enjoy the water or experiencing the thrill of reeling in a fish. Fishing is not only a sport to me, it is a way of life and a way to better your life.
Jonathan and Philip are both skilled craftsmen and are learning the skill of rod building from Master rod builders in their area. They are also skilled fishermen and have spent many hours operating boats of various sizes.
What "Florida is Fishing" is all about:
Since fishing brings so much happiness to our lives, we want to share this with people, especially people who may otherwise have limited access to fishing due to a disability. Our long term goal is to raise capital and donations of time, resources, and products to helps us provide fishing equipment/supplies and coordinate fishing trips for people with disabilities. We are not interested in pricey chartered trips- we want YOU to get involved! We want those with the time and resources to volunteer to "Captain" a fishing trip with disabled anglers. We are also looking for donations of ANY (new or used) fishing supplies or equipment. All equipment will be inspected, cleaned, and refurbished, if necessary, and donated to disabled anglers in our area. We are looking for Individual and Corporate Sponsors for donations of supplies from tackle, life vests, coolers, sodas, snacks, bait, etc- the "necessities" to enjoy a day of fishing.
We have had a few generous offers from Seeker, Fuji, and Old Salt. Also a friend has offered to help us get our website up and running! ALL of our sponsors and donors will be recognized on our website, Facebook, and at all events we attend. All tackle will also include logos from those that sponsored that Item.
Our Goals:
Our first goal is to raise the capital needed to keep us legal- we need funds to properly set up a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and properly register with all Federal, State and Local Agencies.
Our second goal is to modify tackle for those in need. Also we will coordinate sponsored fishing trips and workshops for disabled anglers of all ages.
