The Ike Foundation will be accepting donations of new and gently used fishing equipment this weekend at the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo, at the TD Convention Center in Greenville, SC.
Yamaha and Bass University TV booths will serve drop-off locations for donations, according to Mike Iaconelli, president of the 501c3 non-profit dedicated to getting children involved in fishing.
“Bring in a new rod or pull those unused rods and reels out of the garage and the corner of the basement and bring them to the TD Center, said Iaconelli. “We’ll make sure they get to kids who will put them to use.”
The Expo is open to the public on Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Equipment donations are tax deductible. Monetary contributions are also welcome.
Iaconelli and wife Becky founded The Ike Foundation last year to fulfill Mike’s long-time dream of connecting more kids with fishing opportunities, especially kids in areas where fishing opportunities are not easily found.
“The mission for us, as The Ike Foundation, is to make it happen – arrange places to collect the equipment, check it, organize it and ship it to a group of kids," Iaconelli said. "On the other side, the foundation wants to hear from organizations that have fishing programs (or will start one), determine the equipment they need, match it against our inventory, and get it to them.”
Organizations that want to be considered for a gift of fishing equipment or support can apply online, using the form at MikeIaconelli.com/IkeFoundation. To donate toward shipping costs and the purchase of new equipment, send checks to The Ike Foundation, P.O. Box 818, 625 N. Main Street, Elmer, NJ, 08318 or use a credit card at MikeIaconelli.com/IkeFoundation.
