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Troop Appreciation Foundation

It's All About the Troops!

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2020 Upcoming Events: 

• JUNE 24, 2020 - Annual Troop Appreciation Fishing Derby Host guided striped bass fishing trip for seventy (70) Wounded Warriors on Lake Murray, SC.  Location - Pine Island Clubhouse.   Back up date in the event of inclement weather July 1st.  

• July 22, 2020 ... Local Lake Murray fishermen will host guided Striped Bass fishing trips for 15 active duty Drill Sergeants.  Trips are 100% expense free to all participants.  The "Big Red Barn" to select participants.

• August 19, 2020 ... Local Lake Murray fishermen will host guided Striped Bass fishing trips for 15 active duty service men and women.  Trips are 100% expense free to all participants.  The "Big Red Barn" to select participants.

Note - The Big Red Barn is a 501(c)(3) non profit that offers therapeutic healing workshops for Veterans.  Visit TheBigRedBarnRetreat.org for more information.

The 8th Annual Troop Appreciation Fishing Derby will be the first week of June.

Planning for the 2019 Annual Troop Fishing Derby will begin December 2018


Planning for 2020 Troop Appreciation Fishing Derby began November 13, 2019.   This will be the ninth consecutive year the event will be held.  It has grown a good bit since 2012.  Planning for the Fishing Derby requires a significant amount of coordination - event has a lot of moving parts.  The planning committee for 2020 event has expanded to account for the growth.  

The following is a brief summary of the new structure:

•  Mike Glover will focus on fundraising, media relations & logistics (troopfishing@aol.com)

•  Bill Strong will be treasure, and assist with fundraising & logistics (billstrong45@AOL.com)

•  Joby Wetzel will be the chief of the boats (COB) and all activities associated with securing boat captains for event

•  Tammy Hicks will be the lead for all activities associated with securing and distributing prizes & gifts (Fiipper58aol.com)

Joby & Tammy have helped us with the event for a number of years - “they are all in” on making next years event the best ever!

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions, wish to donate &/or volunteer.

Headquarters will be at the Pine Island Clubhouse on Lake Murray. It is scheduled for the first week in June. This year the derby will be all about the wounded warriors. Seventy (70) wounded warriors are being invited which will require 26 boats and volunteer captains.


The Troop Appreciation Foundation would like to give Dominion Energy a special Thank You for allowing the event to be hosted on Pine Island !!  


The Annual Troop Fishing Derby takes place at Pine Island on Lake Murray
150 Pine Island Road, Columbia SC 29212

Volunteers Needed
We need some interested patriotic sponsors to help with prizes and food. Checks should be made out to: 
“TAFFF.”(Troop Appreciation Fishing Fund Foundation) and sent to: P.O. Box 876, Chapin SC 29036  or donate here:

All  donations are tax deductible and go directly to the event – not to the Wounded  Warrior Project

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TROOPS!

We need some interested patriotic sponsors to help with bait, prizes and food.

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