FishAmerica Foundation Receives Contribution From Johnson Outdoors

Second Donation In Two Years For Gulf Fund

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The FishAmerica Foundation is the 2007 recipient of a $5,000 conservation grant from Johnson Outdoors in honor of the Samuel C. Johnson Fishing Journalist of the Year award.

The award was presented to Al Lindner, outdoor journalist and long-time TV host, during ICAST 2007, the sportfishing industry’s trade show held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, July 11-13, produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA). 

Lindner was selected based on his contributions to the fishing industry in the fields of journalism, conservation and philanthropic leadership. Lindner partnered with his brother Ron to establish In-Fisherman magazine and expanded the philosophy of educating anglers to be more successful into television and radio. 

Linder is considered one of the most popular TV hosts of all times and has already been inducted into several fishing Halls of Fame.

The FishAmerica Foundation will use the Johnson Outdoors donation for the FishAmerica Gulf Fund.  FishAmerica established the FishAmerica Gulf Fund to help restore Gulf Coast sportfisheries and fishing access facilities devastated during the 2005 hurricane season.

The Gulf Fund will provide grants to community-based sportfishing and conservation organizations to help restore sportfish populations, their habitats and fishing facilities. These projects would include the restoration of the Laketown fishing pier in the City of Kenner, La.

Located on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, just outside New Orleans, 75 percent of the pier was destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The city plans to build a concrete pier that will withstand a hurricane. 

The Samuel C. Johnson Fishing Journalist of the Year award is named for Sam Johnson, founder of Johnson Outdoors and a successful entrepreneur and outdoor enthusiast. The award was created to recognize and encourage the efforts of the most prominent and respected journalists in the fishing industry. 

Jerry Gibbs, fishing editor of Outdoor Life, was selected as the 2006 award winner based on his contributions to the fishing industry in the fields of journalism, conservation and philanthropic leadership. 
 
The FishAmerica Foundation is the conservation and research foundation of the American Sportfishing Association. FishAmerica unites the sportfishing industry with conservation groups, government agencies, fishing tournaments, corporations and charitable foundations, investing in fisheries conservation and research across the country. FishAmerica provides matching grants that empower citizen conservationists in their own communities. Since 1983, FishAmerica has provided more than $9 million for more than 900 fisheries conservation and research projects nationwide.