October 7, 2008
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

FISHING TOURNAMENT RAISES RECORD $117,500 FOR YOUTH RANCHES  

All of the fish have been weighed, the music and fireworks are over and the games and rides shut down for another year. However, the money raised during the recent charity Battle of the Badges Family Funfest & Inshore Fishing Tournament in New Smyrna Beach will help at-risk, neglected and abused children for a long time to come.  

With all the money counted, Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson on Tuesday turned over the proceeds raised by the family funfest to the non-profit Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches. An oversized check in the amount of $117,500 was presented to an elated Youth Ranches president Roger Bouchard during a ceremony in Daytona Beach Tuesday morning. While the Youth Ranches has slashed administrative expenses and other overhead costs, Bouchard said direct programs and services remain strong and intact, thanks in large measure to the generosity and hard work that went into putting on the Sept. 19-21 fundraiser that attracted thousands of children and families to downtown New Smyrna Beach along with more than 320 anglers. The funds raised this year shattered the $115,000 mark set at least year’s event. “It’s so obvious the huge amount of work that goes into this event,” said Bouchard. “I can’t tell you how much that means to us to be able to continue on with providing the services for children.”  

Sheriff Johnson used the occasion on Tuesday to praise the members of the Sheriff’s Office’s Charity Committee that organized the event and transformed it into the premier Youth Ranches fundraiser in the state. The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches provides a wide assortment of community-based residential care, family counseling, camping programs and foster care to neglected, abused and at-risk children throughout Florida . The statewide program includes a network of four residential child-care campuses and two youth camps for underprivileged children. Sheriff Johnson has hosted an annual fundraiser for the Youth Ranches for the last seven years. While he said he’s proud to have his name associated with the event, Sheriff Johnson said it’s the Charity Committee that makes it all happen. “I want to thank the committee for the great job they did putting this thing together,” said Sheriff Johnson. “This is something great that you’re doing for the kids.”

In addition to the fishing tournament, live music and fireworks, the weekend funfest also featured carnival rides, midway games, law enforcement demonstrations, boat, car and truck shows, free children’s fishing lessons and a 5K Family Fun Run/Walk. Plans for next year’s event haven’t been announced yet.