Fishing for a brighter future
August 21, 2017
Help HUB International Mountain States Limited earn an even larger donation to Joey's Foundation. If their story is shared on social media 50 or more times Aug. 21-27, Joey's Foundation will receive an additional $5,000. Use the buttons and help them reach their goal!
Ask Rose Burns why she supports Joey's Foundation, and the answer comes easily.
"In today's society, folks are busy. Everyone is consumed by technology. Joey's Foundation provides our youth with positive experiences outdoors, and quality role models, to help put them on the right path in life."
The Sheridan, Wyoming, organization, founded in 2007 by youth advocate and avid fly fisherman Joey Puettman, helps kids ages 5-18 learn how to lead healthy, productive lifestyles, and avoid negative behaviors such as substance abuse.
"These kids often come from broken homes," according to Burns, senior account manager for HUB International Mountain States Limited in Sheridan. "It's really hard to break that cycle without community support."
Thanks to Joey's Foundation, breaking that cycle can even be fun. "We introduce children to the special and unique sport of fly fishing," according to Sheila Blackburn, executive director. "This helps foster a lifelong passion and appreciation for the beauty of the outdoors."
The foundation's namesake, Joey, helps a student during a summer fly-tying class.
The foundation offers summer camps, rod-building and fly-tying classes, and other events at schools and groups across the area. This allows the kids to spend valuable time with mentors, too, Blackburn added. "We have volunteers who are professional fly-fishing guides, but also firemen, bank tellers, secretaries, moms, dads, and more."
HUB agent Aaron Linden, president of the board for the foundation and another board member, Tracy Dearanger, host a live auction for Joey's Fall Fly IV, 2016.
You can add "insurance professionals" to that list. Burns, along with HUB, has helped Joey's purchase waders, along with building fishing rods. Commercial lines agent Aaron Linden is president of the board for the foundation. And they're hoping to participate in a fishing trip soon, Burns said.
It's all part of a continued commitment to community - "HUB loves to see employees giving back," Burns said, noting that the company's "HUB Gives" program has been going strong for years.
That dedication has earned the company a 2017 Safeco Insurance Make More Happen Award, which comes with up to a $10,000 donation to Joey's Foundation from Safeco on behalf of HUB International Mountain States Limited.
"This will help support the staff we need to serve more students, provide additional educational tools, and purchase materials and equipment," Blackburn said.
Board members Aaron Linden and Joel Dvorjak, host the retro-themed Fall Fly III, 2015 which also has a fly fishing tournament as part of the fundraising for mentoring programs.
Financial donations are vital, because requests are increasing and no child is turned away, she added. It's a far cry from 2007, when Joey's Foundation started with yard-sale fishing gear and a few friends putting on a camp.
"What they do is so important," Burns said. "We're just happy to play a role in supporting this great mission, and these great kids."
Learn more about our winners:
Ask Rose Burns why she supports Joey's Foundation, and the answer comes easily.
"In today's society, folks are busy. Everyone is consumed by technology. Joey's Foundation provides our youth with positive experiences outdoors, and quality role models, to help put them on the right path in life."
The Sheridan, Wyoming, organization, founded in 2007 by youth advocate and avid fly fisherman Joey Puettman, helps kids ages 5-18 learn how to lead healthy, productive lifestyles, and avoid negative behaviors such as substance abuse.
"These kids often come from broken homes," according to Burns, senior account manager for HUB International Mountain States Limited in Sheridan. "It's really hard to break that cycle without community support."
Thanks to Joey's Foundation, breaking that cycle can even be fun. "We introduce children to the special and unique sport of fly fishing," according to Sheila Blackburn, executive director. "This helps foster a lifelong passion and appreciation for the beauty of the outdoors."
The foundation's namesake, Joey, helps a student during a summer fly-tying class.
The foundation offers summer camps, rod-building and fly-tying classes, and other events at schools and groups across the area. This allows the kids to spend valuable time with mentors, too, Blackburn added. "We have volunteers who are professional fly-fishing guides, but also firemen, bank tellers, secretaries, moms, dads, and more."
HUB agent Aaron Linden, president of the board for the foundation and another board member, Tracy Dearanger, host a live auction for Joey's Fall Fly IV, 2016.
You can add "insurance professionals" to that list. Burns, along with HUB, has helped Joey's purchase waders, along with building fishing rods. Commercial lines agent Aaron Linden is president of the board for the foundation. And they're hoping to participate in a fishing trip soon, Burns said.
It's all part of a continued commitment to community - "HUB loves to see employees giving back," Burns said, noting that the company's "HUB Gives" program has been going strong for years.
That dedication has earned the company a 2017 Safeco Insurance Make More Happen Award, which comes with up to a $10,000 donation to Joey's Foundation from Safeco on behalf of HUB International Mountain States Limited.
"This will help support the staff we need to serve more students, provide additional educational tools, and purchase materials and equipment," Blackburn said.
Board members Aaron Linden and Joel Dvorjak, host the retro-themed Fall Fly III, 2015 which also has a fly fishing tournament as part of the fundraising for mentoring programs.
Financial donations are vital, because requests are increasing and no child is turned away, she added. It's a far cry from 2007, when Joey's Foundation started with yard-sale fishing gear and a few friends putting on a camp.
"What they do is so important," Burns said. "We're just happy to play a role in supporting this great mission, and these great kids."
Learn more about our winners:
- Agency: HUB International Mountain States Limited, www.hubinternational.com, Sheridan, Wyoming
- Nonprofit: Joey's Foundation, http://joeysflyfishing.com, Sheridan, Wyoming