Defenders for Children connects teens with fishermen to fight child abuse locally and nationally
March 2, 2016
GREENVILLE, SC – For the thousands of children abused in South Carolina, it is often difficult for them to relate to adults as friends and role models. Defenders for Children, a Greenville nonprofit that aims to break the cycle of child abuse, wants to change this relationship between abused children and adults, one fishing trip at a time.
Defenders for Children’s Cast Against Abuse project connects teens and preteens from group homes and foster care with professional fisherman for a special day of tournament fishing. The program has been operating locally for three years through a partnership with Palmetto Boats. Additionally, the organization will take its message national for the first time this year in partnership with Fishing League Worldwide (FLW).
At each event, children in fourth through twelfth grade have the opportunity to spend the whole day on a boat learning how to fish, reeling in their catches, and participating in a professional weigh-in with prizes. Throughout the day, the children experience mentorship, friendship, and kindness from the fishermen.
“These children don’t have many examples of kind adults, especially men, in their lives,” said Toni Clark, CEO of Defenders for Children. “When these kids spend time with the fishermen learning a new skill, they see that they are loved and cherished for who they are.”
By hosting the event during a professional fishing tournament, the fishermen and spectators also have the opportunity to learn how to take mentorship further than one day. Defenders for Children participates in the tournament weekend as a vendor, sharing information about the warning signs of child abuse, and encouraging individuals to become advocates for abused children through becoming a Guardian ad Litem, fostering, or adopting.
“Our mission is to raise awareness of this issue and educate adults, especially men, about steps they can take to fight the cycle of child abuse,” said Clark. “A kind man can have such an impact on a child’s life, and we hope that by experiencing mentorship for one day, they will be inspired to give more of their time.”
The first Cast against Abuse event of the year will take place on Saturday, March 19, during the Walmart Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) tour on Lake Hartwell. Defenders for Children will also travel around the country to other fishing tournaments through the FLW Foundation, spreading the impact of the program beyond Greenville.
To learn more about Defenders for Children and the Cast Against Abuse project, or to become a sponsor of the project, visit www.defendersforchildren.org.
About Defenders for Children:
Defenders for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to prevent child abuse by creating, implementing, and operating projects that raise community awareness, educate adults and children, and increase community involvement to keep children safe and break the cycle of abuse. To learn more about Defenders for Children and their community projects, visit www.defendersforchildren.org.
