| Author | Message | ||
     U.S.S.A. Guest |
July 31, 2004 we will be throwing a big outdoor event for 25 disabled and terminal children and their families. Their ages range from 2-17 years old. We estimate their will be way over a hundred children hoping to do battle with a giant catfish. This event will take place at U.S.S.A.’s headquarters situated on 1,200 acres, located 15 miles east of Black River Falls, WI. We have private lakes for waterskiing, tubing, jet-skiing, canoeing and so much more. We also have a catfish pond stock with catfish; some weighing over 40 pounds. These children’s illnesses range from blindness, epilepsy, cancer, leukemia, Cerebral palsy, ADHD, mentally challenged, Down syndrome and Cystic Fibrosis. These children will be joined by many professional fishermen from around the Midwest. The Founder of Fishing Has No Boundaries as well as many other fine nonprofit organizations will be attending this event as well. Numerous newspapers, magazine and television shows will be attending to capture all the joy in these beautiful children and their families! I have aired on numerous radio stations within the Midwest the last few weeks spreading the word about this big USSA event. Many fine donors like Safari Club International, Bass Pro, Cabelas and Zebco to name a few have donated so generously so these special children can have a wonderful outdoor experience! To a lot of these children, this will be their only vacation and we want to make it very special for each and every one of them!! Americans helping Americans is a time honored tradition for our country, as deer and elk farmers can attest to! U.S.S.A. is simply an extension of that tradition, and we want to bring our nations outdoor heritage to all Americans, regardless of their physical condition. To me there isn’t anything more touching than putting my arms around a “special child” and letting them know how much we care for them. We would like to share this wonderful feeling with anyone interested; our door is open to anyone who would like to attend this event. Brigid O’Donoghue, President & Founder U.S.S.A. www.childswish.com/ | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 557 Registered: 11-2002  |
Here is the first of many photographs taken during this great event.  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 558 Registered: 11-2002 |
Sam is 8 years old and has cancer. He is quite the fisherman and has a very big appetite for watermellon!  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 559 Registered: 11-2002 |
Michael who we all remember as "Trigger" shot a nice buck at Sam James in Missouri. He is now an angel in heaven and below is a picture of Michael's dad showing his compassion for another special child. I'm sure Michael was very proud of his dad when he witnessed from heaven his father taking this child from me and loving him the way he did. Michael your father is indeed a very special man!  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 560 Registered: 11-2002 |
Babe Winkelman's camera man [Nate] getting some help filming.  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 561 Registered: 11-2002 |
Founder of "Fishing Has No Boundaries" attends the USSA event.  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 562 Registered: 11-2002 |
Ryan showing off his fish and his shirt donated by the WI chapter of SCI.  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 563 Registered: 11-2002 |
Ali thought the chance to go fishing was the best part about the day.  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 565 Registered: 11-2002 |
Brigid's Mom and Autum & MaKenna  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 566 Registered: 11-2002 |
Miles and his family enjoying their fishing trip. Miles is also a USSA junior board member.  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 567 Registered: 11-2002 |
Born to fish!  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 568 Registered: 11-2002 |
"Little Darling"  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 569 Registered: 11-2002 |
Tony is blind, but it doesn't stop him from hunting or fishing!  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 570 Registered: 11-2002 |
Mr. & Mrs. Gene Ellis lost their only child to cancer; they attended this event to help us with our special children.  | ||
| Newspaper Article Guest |
Sun, Aug 1, 2004 Kids spend special day playing by lake By Jeni Lewis Central Wisconsin Sunday Nearly 30 children with disabilities and terminal illnesses from across the state had a chance to go fishing, water-skiing, tubing and swimming Saturday at a charity event in eastern Jackson County. The event, a Water Sport Celebration, was sponsored by the United Special Sportsmen Alliance. The national nonprofit group has been organizing outdoor activities for children with special needs for four years. Water activities and fishing are favorites for many children, said Brigid O'Donoghue, president of the United Special Sportsmen Alliance. "That's all the fun stuff that kids like to do," she said. The event was held on a cranberry farm, which is about 15 miles east of Black River Falls. It's home to a lake used for farming, on which the children and adults water-skiied and swam, and a pond that's stocked with fish. "We're trying our best to catch some fish," said Denny Halgren of Dixon, Ill., who was one of the Professional Catfishing Association members invited to the event to help the children fish. Large catfish patrolled the bottom of the pond. Many of the children and their families tried their luck at snaring them, but most had little success. "Oh, we're going to get some fish," Halgren said. "We won't leave here until we do," O'Donoghue said. "I think if one of them catches one of these big ones - and there's a lot of them on the bottom - it will be a big thing." By midday, the group had caught some small bass but hadn't been able to haul in any catfish. The event started at midmorning, and organizers said it would last until the campfire went out. Ali Schneeberg, 9, of Stevens Point thought the chance to go fishing was the best part about the day's events. "It's what she wanted to do," said her father, Scott Schneeberg, who doesn't go fishing. "She always wants to fish. The second Brigid said fishing, she was here." The Schneebergs met O'Donoghue at the Fourth of July fireworks show in Wisconsin Rapids. When O'Donoghue found out that Ali was recovering from surgery to correct her scoliosis - an abnormal curvature of the spine - she invited the family to the event. Kathy and George Saucier of Marshfield met O'Don-oghue at the Marshfield Area YMCA. They are guardians of their great-nephews, Byron and Alex Gunn, who both have behavioral and cognitive disorders. Saturday afternoon found Byron, a second-grader, and Alex, a kindergartner, digging on shore of the lake and making sand castles. "We don't go to the beach all the time," Kathy Saucier said. "Byron wants to go fishing," she said, but he couldn't go swimming because he had undergone minor skin surgery on Friday. Alex said he really wanted to catch a catfish and to swim in the lake. Nearly everything for Saturday's activities, from food to volunteer services, was donated to the United Special Sportsmen Alliance, O'Donoghue said. The group needs more than donations, however. O'Donoghue is always searching for more children who could benefit from the organization because the group receives more donations than it uses for the children it works with. | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 572 Registered: 11-2002 |
"Byron and Tim from Procats"  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 573 Registered: 11-2002 |
Alex is ready to catch a big catfish!  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 574 Registered: 11-2002 |
Grandpa's boy!  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 575 Registered: 11-2002 |
Here are a few more pictures:   | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 576 Registered: 11-2002 |
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| COuntry Today Article Guest |
Nonprofit group helping children experience the outdoors By Teresa Schmitt Staff Writer PITTSVILLE — A few fishing rods, a pond stocked with fish and a group of heart-filled volunteers helped make about 30 disabled children’s dreams come true Saturday when the United Special Sportsmen Alliance organization sponsored a fishing event. “Sharing the outdoor experience with these kids that they might not get because of health problems or because of financial reasons due to health issues is the most rewarding part of this day,” said Eric Badofsky, USSA marketing communications director. “Seeing that sparkle in their eye after they catch a fish is wonderful.” USSA is a nonprofit organization that works with other organizations and families worldwide to help terminally ill or disabled children’s dreams come true. The group works with deer, elk, turkey, bear and pheasant farms to create outdoor experiences for children. Last year USSA received $1 million in donations of free hunting trips including room and board. Saturday’s fishing event was the fourth annual at USSA headquarters. “I sent a group of children out to Alabama to go fishing, and while they were there they called me and they were laughing and crying about the wonderful time they had,” said Brigid O’Donoghue, founder and president. “After hearing their joy I thought we should utilize the ponds on the property here so the children could fish here.” The ponds were stocked by donation with walleye, catfish, bass and bluegills. It always will be fished as catch and release and will never be open to the public. Professional fishermen throughout the Midwest volunteered their fishing skills to assist the children. “Disabled children can fish just as well as anyone else, they just need the opportunity and a helping hand,” said retired special education teacher Jack Freehill of Sauk City, who volunteered as a fishing guide. Mr. Freehill’s fishing buddy, Ryan Novy, 12, who has Down syndrome, reeled in a 12-inch walleye. “Ever since I can remember he has been practicing the motions of fishing and reeling in a fish with his baseball bat or with a table knife,” said Ryan’s mother, Sheryl Novy. “We even have to watch every single fishing show on TV.” Ryan did nothing but fish after arriving at the pond. “It’s been great. Ryan’s really kept a good focus all day,” Mrs. Novy said. “Ryan’s father and I aren’t really outdoors people, so it’s wonderful for him to get a chance to do something like this.” Byron Gunn, 6, and brother Alex, 7, also caught fish with the help of volunteers. “This is pretty awesome,” said their great-aunt Kathy Soucher. “It’s something for them to do and it’s all we’ve heard about since we woke up this morning.” The future looks good for the USSA, Ms. O’Donoghue said. The group ranks as the No. 1 outdoor sports nonprofit organization. Ms. O’Donoghue said their goal for next year is to make 1,000 children’s dreams come true. She said they’re hoping for 50 children and their families at next year’s fishing event. “We need more kids,” she said. “The more children that we can help to smile and be happy and not be sick for a day the better.” Teresa Schmitt may be reached at teresa.schmitt@ecpc.com. | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 577 Registered: 11-2002 |
This is a picture of Jordan and his family. He is the special child who attended the elk hunt in Oklahoma last fall. He has been really sick and was released from the hospital the afternoon of this event. We were all very happy to see him and meet his wonderful family.  | ||
| Russell Moderator Username: Russell Post Number: 578 Registered: 11-2002 |
This is Collin and his Mom  |
