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The International Game Fish Association joins Matt Tiernan in giving kids a day of fun and a chance to fit in.
By ABBIE VANSICKLE
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 7, 2002
CLEARWATER -- Seven years ago, Matt Tiernan had a vision.
Call it divine intervention, a message from God. That's what Tiernan, an ardent Christian, believes. Call it whatever you like. Anyway you look at it, the high school math teacher's simple idea has made a big difference to thousands of kids.
It all started the day Tiernan decided to take his nephew Robert Smith out fishing. Because of an operation shortly after his birth, Smith's legs are severed just below his hips. But that didn't stop Smith from hooking plenty of big ones that day.
It was then that Tiernan, an experienced angler, realized that fishing was one of the only sports in which physical disabilities didn't present a barrier to the participant.
"I thought, well, anybody can fish," he said.
And that was that. He called up three fishing buddies, all successful local businessmen, and pitched his idea. He wanted to start a fishing tournament in Clearwater for disabled children. Registration would be free and local businesses would donate the rods, reels, tackle boxes and bait. The children would get to take home all of the fishing equipment. It would be called the Make a Difference Fishing Tournament.
The tournament is now in its seventh year. With more than 400 children participating and more than 200 volunteers, its popularity has surprised even Tiernan.
But the Clearwater event is just the beginning for the Make a Difference Tournament. The International Game Fish Association, a worldwide organization dedicated to conservation and record-keeping of fishing statistics, has taken an interest in Tiernan's brainchild. After observing the event in Clearwater, CEO Don Watts of the IGFA announced Saturday that he would partner with Tiernan and his group to establish Make a Difference fishing tournaments around the globe.
"It's such a thrill to be around these kids," Watts said. "They're getting outside and learning to fish. It's a great investment in the next generation and really brings a small-town atmosphere to a big place."
This year's tournament took place on Clearwater's Pier 60 from 7 a.m. to noon. Children and their families cast their lines into the water on both sides of the pier. Volunteers kept track of the size and number of fish the children caught. All fish were released soon after they were caught. Trophies were awarded for the most fish caught as well as for several other categories, including prettiest fish and and most unusual fish.
As Tiernan looked around at the hundreds of children baiting hooks and casting lines off the pier early Saturday, he blinked fiercely, trying to stop the tears springing to his eyes.
"You know you've dreamed this whole day," he said to a reporter. "Isn't this amazing? You just can't imagine something like this is really happening."
The scene on Pier 60 was chaotic. A sea of yellow poles bobbed along as children and their parents carried their catches to volunteers.
"We're going to need some help with this one," one woman said as she raced by, a shiny silver fish twisting violently on her pole. Another boy startled passersby by popping balloons. Flashbulbs blinked as families captured their day on film.
Volunteers with Polaroid cameras also canvassed the pier, ensuring that everyone would take home a lasting memory of their day out in the Florida sun. The core of volunteers -- ranging in age from a 13-year-old girl, who had participated in the tournament last year and wanted to give something back, to retired businessmen -- dedicated countless hours to the tournament, said Pam Wiegand, fundraising chair for the tournament.
Volunteers begin to arrive at 5:30 a.m. the day of the tournament. Tossing chum, ground bits of fish that attract bigger fish, into the water, they worked to make sure everything went well for the young anglers.
"Just about every child has a volunteer assigned to them," she said. "It's just local people helping local children."
Donating everything from a toll-free phone line for the organization to big-screen televisions to give to the children, local people provide the backbone of the tournament, she said. Even the pier's use was donated to the organization for the day by the city government.
Wearing a red sun dress and white wide-brimmed hat, Hanna Vogeler's eyes were wide with excitement as she watched her pole bob up and down in the water. Hanna, 14, has Down's syndrome. The tournament was a lot of fun, she said. She made a catch to hone her fishing skills. Plus, she got to fish side-by-side with her school friend Ali Vasquez.
"I didn't catch any fish," Hanna said. "But I did spend the day with Ali."
Ali, 11, relaxing in a purple beach chair, smiled at her friend.
"It was my very first time fishing," she said. "I liked it."
Her father, Mauricio Vasquez, beamed with pride. He said he had decided to bring his daughter out to fish because it would give her a chance to spend some time outside and learn a skill she can use for the rest of her life.
"It's so comfortable out here," he said. "It's space just for them. Nobody's looking at the kids like they don't belong. Everyone fits out here."