South Carolina-based Falcon Boats announced that its forged a sponsorship deal with Rick Morris, who's returned to the Bassmaster Elite Series this year after a 3-year absence.
Falcon's decision to sponsor Morris was twofold. Along with the fact that he's competing on the sport's biggest stages, it was an opportunity to benefit his title sponsor, Leebcor Services LLC, in an endeavor to support the U.S. military through its Fishing for Our Troops mission.
"Rick has had a strong career in the Bassmaster Tour and Elite Series, but that wasn't all," said Falcon co-founder Stephen Waller. "His partnership with John Karafa and Leebcor was something that we could really get behind. With my partner Tim (DePriest, co-founder of Falcon Boats) being a veteran, and his son being an active duty Marine, we wanted to support the whole program."
Leebcor Services LLC is a construction company that serves only the federal government, with a large portion of its projects being military barracks, command centers, administration offices and the like. Leebcor established Fishing for Our Troops, a non-profit organization designed to provide ongoing support, awareness and fundraising for the U.S.O., the organization that seeks to "strengthen America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation."
Leebcor President and CEO Karafa, a disabled service veteran of the Air Force himself, found synergy in a love of fishing, a desire to support U.S. Troops through the U.S.O. and Morris. "I met Rick when we hired him as a guide on Lake Toho, and really enjoyed meeting him," said Karafa. "As we got to know him, we found out that he was truly a great guy, and that he would fit what we were trying to do, so we decided to support him and enlist his aid in the events we will be running in support of the U.S.O. going forward."
Morris said he felt like he has found a family, support and motivation through these partnerships.
"John has become a true friend and Fishing for Our Troops has given me more of a purpose to my life and my fishing," he said. "Add Falcon Boats to that circle, and I feel like I'm a part of something bigger than my fishing career. I feel like I have a true support system around me, with a great mission, a truly great boat, friends who will stand with me, and I with them. I am proud to run a Falcon, and to display Leebcor Services LLC on the side of it."
