Ike Foundation gets kids fishing

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Before ICAST and the two New York Elite events, Mike and Becky Iaconelli held their second successful fishing tournament under the auspices of The Ike Foundation, which works to get kids fishing.
Before ICAST and the two New York Elite events, Mike and Becky Iaconelli held their second successful fishing tournament under the auspices of The Ike Foundation, which works to get kids fishing.
The events surrounding the 2017 Ike Celebrity ProAm Tournament were held on the Delaware River in Camden, N.J., in sight of downtown Philadelphia.
The events surrounding the 2017 Ike Celebrity ProAm Tournament were held on the Delaware River in Camden, N.J., in sight of downtown Philadelphia.
Mike and Becky Iaconelli began the non-profit Ike Foundation in 2014 with the interest of getting kids, especially urban kids, fishing. “It was really good, another two part event,” Mike said. “This time we changed a little. We had our silent auction/dinner the night before on the Battleship New Jersey. That was so cool, a great event.”
Mike and Becky Iaconelli began the non-profit Ike Foundation in 2014 with the interest of getting kids, especially urban kids, fishing. “It was really good, another two part event,” Mike said. “This time we changed a little. We had our silent auction/dinner the night before on the Battleship New Jersey. That was so cool, a great event.”
The Iaconellis brought in the big guns for the silent auction, the proceeds of which will go to purchase and outfit children’s organizations with fishing tackle. “We got a little bit of the New Jersey political world involved this year,” Ike said. “That’s great because I don’t think they knew this kind of stuff was going on. So that’s going to help. That to me was amazing -- it was Republicans and Democrats coming in to support it, which is hard to do. They were there to support kids fishing.”
The Iaconellis brought in the big guns for the silent auction, the proceeds of which will go to purchase and outfit children’s organizations with fishing tackle. “We got a little bit of the New Jersey political world involved this year,” Ike said. “That’s great because I don’t think they knew this kind of stuff was going on. So that’s going to help. That to me was amazing — it was Republicans and Democrats coming in to support it, which is hard to do. They were there to support kids fishing.”
A table of items to be auctioned stretches inside the tents set up on the deck of Battleship New Jersey, which was in action for WWII and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. She is America’s most decorated battleship. The “Big J” is now a museum ship.
A table of items to be auctioned stretches inside the tents set up on the deck of Battleship New Jersey, which was in action for WWII and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. She is America’s most decorated battleship. The “Big J” is now a museum ship.
An approaching front threatened to put a damper on the evening’s festivities.
An approaching front threatened to put a damper on the evening’s festivities.
“An amazing storm came through -- 50 mph straight line winds coming across,” said Ike, adding that all was well. “Becky wouldn’t let anything happen.”
“An amazing storm came through — 50 mph straight line winds coming across,” said Ike, adding that all was well. “Becky wouldn’t let anything happen.”
Popular northeast bass pro Antonio “GoGo” Gomez once again helped out Ike and his cause.
Popular northeast bass pro Antonio “GoGo” Gomez once again helped out Ike and his cause.
The guests gather around to see who won which prized object from the silent auction.
The guests gather around to see who won which prized object from the silent auction.
And there was dancing …
And there was dancing …
… that went into the Jersey night.
… that went into the Jersey night.
A bunch of the pro anglers, including the likes of Pete Gluszek, Terry Baksay, Greg DiPalma, Grae Buck, Joe Sancho, Steve Kennedy, Darrell Ocamica, Cliff Crochet, Bryan Schmitt and Trait and Chris Zaldain pose with the crew.
A bunch of the pro anglers, including the likes of Pete Gluszek, Terry Baksay, Greg DiPalma, Grae Buck, Joe Sancho, Steve Kennedy, Darrell Ocamica, Cliff Crochet, Bryan Schmitt and Trait and Chris Zaldain pose with the crew.
After the weather cleared and the crowd went home, Mike and Becky share a quiet moment..
After the weather cleared and the crowd went home, Mike and Becky share a quiet moment..
The next morning, on July 8, the anglers begin arriving at Wiggins Park Marina for the Celebrity ProAm.
The next morning, on July 8, the anglers begin arriving at Wiggins Park Marina for the Celebrity ProAm.
Becky runs down rules for the ProAm before the teams launch. Ike said they had 38 boats, including the 12 pros who garnered donations to fish with them.
Becky runs down rules for the ProAm before the teams launch. Ike said they had 38 boats, including the 12 pros who garnered donations to fish with them.
Cliff Crochet heads out on the Delaware River with his team.
Cliff Crochet heads out on the Delaware River with his team.
Chris Zaldain takes off on his run down river.
Chris Zaldain takes off on his run down river.
Another angler idles near Battleship New Jersey, which is near the marina.
Another angler idles near Battleship New Jersey, which is near the marina.
The real magic, Ike said, was all the kids who came to the free Family Fun Fest at Wiggins Park in downtown Camden. “We gave away 800 Flambeau tackle boxes, which was great,” Ike said.
The real magic, Ike said, was all the kids who came to the free Family Fun Fest at Wiggins Park in downtown Camden. “We gave away 800 Flambeau tackle boxes, which was great,” Ike said.
The weigh-in would be held at the Wiggins Waterfront Riverstage, with the Philly skyline as a backdrop.
The weigh-in would be held at the Wiggins Waterfront Riverstage, with the Philly skyline as a backdrop.
Ike’s right hand received a workout signing the boxes.
Ike’s right hand received a workout signing the boxes.
MyLuckyFishingShirt set up shop. Kids of all ages were seen wearing the shirts and hats at the event.
MyLuckyFishingShirt set up shop. Kids of all ages were seen wearing the shirts and hats at the event.
“We gave away lots of Abu Garcia rods and reels,” Ike said. That looks popular. “Again, there were Kids Casting, kids fishing, face painting, music, just a really great time”
“We gave away lots of Abu Garcia rods and reels,” Ike said. That looks popular. “Again, there were Kids Casting, kids fishing, face painting, music, just a really great time”
Gotta have a giant bee buzzing around. This busy visitor is courtesy of Hoffman’s, a local exterminator who sponsored the event.
Gotta have a giant bee buzzing around. This busy visitor is courtesy of Hoffman’s, a local exterminator who sponsored the event.
Another sponsor brought Bella the Bobber, a character from a beautifully written children’s book about fishing, 'Amir's Big Catch.'
Another sponsor brought Bella the Bobber, a character from a beautifully written children’s book about fishing, ‘Amir’s Big Catch.’
This kid not only got his face painted to the max, he got an Ike Live hat.
This kid not only got his face painted to the max, he got an Ike Live hat.
New this year was the NWTF’s JAKES Take Aim program, which provides youth opportunities at target shooting. Donations from MidwayUSA’s Larry and Brenda Potterfield, as well as equipment from Daisy and Remington, are getting 17 and younger youth to shoot from BB guns to clay target shooting in a safe, fun environment.
New this year was the NWTF’s JAKES Take Aim program, which provides youth opportunities at target shooting. Donations from MidwayUSA’s Larry and Brenda Potterfield, as well as equipment from Daisy and Remington, are getting 17 and younger youth to shoot from BB guns to clay target shooting in a safe, fun environment.
Becky is pretty excited she did well with the BB gun.
Becky is pretty excited she did well with the BB gun.
There was also musical entertainment. Camden County provided headliner Sara Spicer, and Ike and Becky brought in the opening act, Bullet Proof, a local kid band.
There was also musical entertainment. Camden County provided headliner Sara Spicer, and Ike and Becky brought in the opening act, Bullet Proof, a local kid band.
Ike poses with some boys. “Again, I’m busy,” Ike said. “I’m signing autographs, and I’m helping kids. But every once in a while I try to step back and look. That event to me is great because I saw a lot of kids smiling. Becky and I were saying 40 percent of the kids who came had never cast a rod before. That’s the magic of these events we’re doing in these urban areas.”
Ike poses with some boys. “Again, I’m busy,” Ike said. “I’m signing autographs, and I’m helping kids. But every once in a while I try to step back and look. That event to me is great because I saw a lot of kids smiling. Becky and I were saying 40 percent of the kids who came had never cast a rod before. That’s the magic of these events we’re doing in these urban areas.”
“I’m talking about 14- and 15- year olds who live in urban areas, Philadelphia, Camden, surrounding suburbs, that have never fished,” he said. “And the river is right there. The creeks are right there. They just didn’t realize it was there. So to see them cast for the first time or catch a catfish off the river, that’s the magic.”
“I’m talking about 14- and 15- year olds who live in urban areas, Philadelphia, Camden, surrounding suburbs, that have never fished,” he said. “And the river is right there. The creeks are right there. They just didn’t realize it was there. So to see them cast for the first time or catch a catfish off the river, that’s the magic.”
“We added a kayak division this year and had about 15 boats, but it was good because that’s a segment of fishing that’s growing,” said Ike. Kyle Sweitzer was the winner and received a great package of items.
“We added a kayak division this year and had about 15 boats, but it was good because that’s a segment of fishing that’s growing,” said Ike. Kyle Sweitzer was the winner and received a great package of items.
Pro anglers Terry Baksay and Charlie Hartley visit before weigh-in.
Pro anglers Terry Baksay and Charlie Hartley visit before weigh-in.
The trophies await the winners.
The trophies await the winners.
Chris Zaldain and his teammate, James Reilly, show off their Delaware River bass.
Chris Zaldain and his teammate, James Reilly, show off their Delaware River bass.
The winning team of Randy and Randolph Baran had 14.24 pounds, and John Vanore’s team was second with 13.32. The highest of the Elite anglers was Chris Zaldain, who took fourth with 11.02. The winners received a BassCat Margay and trailer along with custom RSnets, gift cards and lot more in a sponsor gift package.
The winning team of Randy and Randolph Baran had 14.24 pounds, and John Vanore’s team was second with 13.32. The highest of the Elite anglers was Chris Zaldain, who took fourth with 11.02. The winners received a BassCat Margay and trailer along with custom RSnets, gift cards and lot more in a sponsor gift package.
Ike and Becky, and everyone who helped put the events together, sure can appreciate this photo, which was sent in by Joseph Newton, board member of the Delaware River Fisherman’s Association. He wrote this was “half the children who participated in the DRFA Youth Fishing Derby. The event was held on July 9, 2017, at the Pennsylvania Yacht Club. The event was a big success, in part, due The Ike Foundation’s donation of tackle boxes. On behalf of the kids and our membership, we thank you for your support.”
Ike and Becky, and everyone who helped put the events together, sure can appreciate this photo, which was sent in by Joseph Newton, board member of the Delaware River Fisherman’s Association. He wrote this was “half the children who participated in the DRFA Youth Fishing Derby. The event was held on July 9, 2017, at the Pennsylvania Yacht Club. The event was a big success, in part, due The Ike Foundation’s donation of tackle boxes. On behalf of the kids and our membership, we thank you for your support.”