From: Gordon Holland, executive director
info@kids-fishing.com
http://www.fishingworld.com/Kids-Fishing

Wal-Mart Kids All-American Fishing Derby Announces New Sponsors for 2003

More Companies Join Program to Get Kids Involved in Fishing

Hooked On Fishing International (HOFI) is announcing the support of three new national sponsors for the Wal-Mart Kids All-American Fishing Derby program.

New to the program in 2003 are Kraft Foods, Johnson & Johnson and ConAgra Foods. HOFI announced that each company will compliment its participation in the Wal-Mart Kids All-American Fishing Derby by contributing additional products or materials for the events in 2003, the seventeenth year for the popular program.

After a morning of casting and reeling in fish, kids tend to get hungry and thirsty. Kraft Foods, manufacturers of Nabisco and Kool-Aid products, will be providing snacks and beverages for the kids. Working through the local derby organizers, Kraft will fend off the young appetites with Ritz Bits Sandwiches and Kool-Aid.

ConAgra Foods will be working with event organizers to make its new 20 oz. Hunt's Perfect Squeeze Ketchup the hot dog condiment of choice for young anglers. Hunt's Perfect Squeeze Ketchup is packaged in an inverted bottle perfectly sized for the smaller hands of young anglers.

Johnson & Johnson will be supporting safety efforts by providing their new First Aid Pocket Pals to every derby participant. Johnson & Johnson First Aid Pocket Pals are mini first aid kits with popular characters created as a fun way to teach kids how to properly care for minor cuts and scrapes with the clean-treat-protect regimen. These mini first aid kits will be packaged in goodie bags the young anglers receive when they check in for the derby.

Kraft, Johnson & Johnson and ConAgra Foods join returning sponsors Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the title sponsor, plus Bar-S Foods Company, which will be providing hot dogs through a special derby organizer offer, Berkley PowerBait, Dubble Bubble Bubble Gum, Eagle Claw, EverStart Batteries, FishingWorld.com, Fujifilm U.S.A., Kellogg's, Laker Fishing Tackle, Berkley Trilene and Zebco.

The support provided by these companies, along with that of Wal-Mart, allows HOFI to provide the official derby kits to the local event organizers free of charge. The official derby kit contains event promotion materials, prizes and give-aways, product samples and the Derby Organizer Handbook which helps community organizations plan their events.

In 2003 HOFI will produce an estimated 1,780 events throughout all 50 states involving nearly 300,000 youngsters. HOFI recruits the efforts of adult volunteer organizations to help coordinate the local derbies. The volunteers most often come from state agencies, parks and recreation departments, scouting groups, fishing clubs and other civic and service clubs.

Individuals and organizations interested in learning more about the Wal-Mart Kids All-American Fishing Derby or conducting and event can find more information on HOFI's website, http://www.fishingworld.com/Kids-Fishing.