Texas Bassmaster Elite Series pro Keith Combs and his wife, Jennifer, are throwing a weekend party later this month. Everyone is invited to attend.
Sept. 27-28 are the dates for the 8th Annual Keith Combs Lufkin Fundraiser benefiting the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation and the C.A.S.T. For Kids fishing event for special needs children and disadvantaged adults.
The upcoming Friday night fundraiser gets underway at 5:30 p.m at the Pitser Garrison Convention Center in Lufkin. It’s a pretty big deal benefitting a really good cause.
Formed in 1991, the C.A.S.T. for Kid’s Foundation is a public charity built around fishing and good deeds. It joins volunteers who love to fish with children who have special needs and disadvantages for a fun day of fishing in the outdoors. Fittingly, CAST is short for “Catch a Special Thrill.”
Combs says the annual fundraiser has raised more than $250,000 for the nott-for-profit organization over the last two years. The money is earmarked for use in hosting more CAST for Kids fishing events and programs.
The foundation will host 104 events nationwide before the year is up, then more than three dozen in Texas, according to Jim Behnken, Texas Program Director at C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation.
“Texas is the king for CAST for Kids, by far.” Behnken said. “The people around the state have a huge heart for kids. We have multiple fundraisers in Texas each year that raise more than $540,000 for the foundation.”
Combs says his annual event has been very well received.
“The people have really embraced it,” he said. “We had a packed house with more than 400 attending last year and I’m looking for another big turnout this year. It’s always a good time.”
Theupcoming fundraiser will feature live and silent auctions, bucket raffles and games. More than a dozen guns, hunting trips, guided fishing trips, gifts of the ladies and other goodies are set to be given away to high bidders and random draw winners.
Freshwater fishing legend and television personality, Hank Parker, will be the guest speaker at the upcoming event. Parker is a two-time Bassmaster Classic Champion and 1983 BASS Angler of the Year.
“It’s so awesome for me to be able to be a part of such a wonderful organization as C.A.S.T. to make the special kids feel loved and appreciated because they are truly special,” Parker said.
Combs said there are nearly three dozen items on the live auction menu alone. Among them are a guided fishing trip with Parker, a Hill Country whitetail hunt, African safari, helicopter hog hunt in South Texas, big game/ dove hunts in Venezuela and Argentina and a pair of registered Labrador retriever puppies. The silent auction will be carried out online at castforkids.org/ keithcombs.
Tomé will cater a fish/ shrimp dinner. Sponsor tables for up to 10 guests are on sale online for $500. Individual tickets are $75.
The Sept. 28 fishing event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the west side park of Lake Nacogdoches on FM 225. CAST for Kids coordinator Jim Behnken said the event is designed to provide special needs children ages 6-18 and disadvantaged adults with the opportunity to enjoy a quality outdoor recreational experience through the sport of fishing.
Parents and guardians can expect participants to enjoy two to three hours of fishing, followed by a shore lunch and awards celebration. Participants will receive commemorative T-shirts, trophies and free fishing tackle.
For more information about registering or volunteering to help with the fishing event, contact Behnken at 210-414-8048 or lakenacogdoches@castforkids. org.