2022 Sustanability Issue

The Fishing Foundation- Connecting Youth to the Outdoors

By Gail Grizell & Dennis Knowles , May 20, 2022 0 Comments

Along with her sister Gay Grizell, Gail Grizell and her husband Dennis Knowles are actively engaged in community outreach. They lead the efforts to understand and address the flooding problems in their neighborhood. However, Gail and Dennis are no strangers to civic engagement including their work to co-found The Fishing Foundation (TFF) in 2012. The Fishing Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enrich people’s lives and encourage youth in the pursuit of a lifelong passion for the sport of fishing.

The project includes classroom instruction and training in five specific areas-

1. Aquatic Education

2. Casting

3. Water Safety

4. Identifying Local Fish Species

5. Fishing from Shore in a Safe and Secure Environment

TFF Impact on Youngsters Residing in Underserved Areas

Since 2012, The Fishing Foundation has touched the lives of hundreds of teens, youth, and adults. But Most importantly, The Fishing Foundation is providing youngsters residing in underserved areas a unique opportunity to connect with others, commune with nature, and expand their environmental experience.

Through grant support, TFF provides instructional materials, a rod and reel, bait, tackle, and hands-on training by certified fishing instructors. All TFF staff and key volunteers are certified fishing instructors through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Passport to Fishing program. In addition, to expand its educational impact, TFF created a fishing manual for beginners to learn how to fish.

It’s also important to note that fostering a love for fishing supports stewardship of the environment and encourages outdoor activities. The facts are that today children spend less time in the natural world than in past generations. The increased use of computers, cell phones, iPads, and other technology contributes to a decrease in time spent outdoors. Some studies indicate that teens spend less than five hours a week outdoors.

Among minority groups in urban areas, it only gets worse. Lack of green space, access to parks, and financial constraint mean children of color often have less access to wholesome outdoor activities. This lack of outdoor exposure means a decreased understanding of the environment and the need to protect it.

Outreach to underserved populations is a major focus of The Fishing Foundation. children who otherwise might not have access, are provided with environmental education and opportunities. When children are exposed to educational programs and activities like fishing, they realize the importance of protecting the natural environment and become stewards of nature in their communities.

Why Spending Time Outdoor is Important

Spending time outdoors not only builds respect for the environment but can also provide life-long benefits as well. Connecting with green spaces such as parks and forests, and blue spaces, places with rivers and lakes, has been shown to help people get more exercise, reduce stress, build self-esteem, and overall improve a person’s quality of life.

Time outdoors not only builds respect, but People make careers out of working outdoors. This provides a positive impact on the environment and a positive influence on our youth. Opportunities exist for tending the land and water to protecting animals and wildlife. Careers extend from conservationists, scientists, foresters, and wildlife biologists, to farmers and park rangers. These are all professionals who make a living working mostly outdoors. To learn more about the work of The Fishing Foundation please visit thefishingfoundation.org.

Written By

Gail Grizell & Dennis Knowles

Sustainable Berea

Gail Ann Grizzell Gail Ann Grizzell has always had a desire to help people. When Gail was a youngster living in Berea, Ohio, she began volunteering as a candy striper at the local hospital. She continued her volunteer endeavors assisting youth organizations, which ultimately lead to a 35-year career in the field of philanthropy as a nonprofit and marketing fundraising professional with the United Negro College Fund and Ideastream, the public broadcasting affiliate radio and television stations in Cleveland, Ohio. Gail decided to combine her fundraising skills with her passion for fishing—a passion inspired by her mother, Margaret—and partnered with Dennis James Knowles to co-found The Fishing Foundation. Now retired, Gail devotes her time, treasure, talent, and touch to expanding the programming of the Foundation. In addition to spending time with her family, Gail serves in a leadership role with The Fishing Foundation, enjoys national and international travel, reading, cooking, gardening, attending arts and cultural events, and most of all, fishing. Along with her sister and business partner, Gail also co-owns Executive Meeting Planners, LLC, a minority- and women-owned-and-operated meeting planning small business enterprise. Gail holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University. Dennis James Knowles Growing up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Dennis James Knowles was never into organized sports. He did participate in neighborhood pick-up games like basketball, touch football, and kickball, but he never had the calling to pursue sports—until he was introduced to fishing. Dennis first picked up a rod and reel when he was 12 years old on a summer vacation to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His uncle Ulysses Tidwell was an avid angler, and Dennis was eager to learn. For many years to follow, Dennis returned to Milwaukee for two weeks of camping, fishing, fun, and adventure. When he went on to college at Ohio University, Dennis took along his rods and reels and went fishing on the weekends. After earning an undergraduate degree in journalism and completing his MFA in film production, Dennis returned to his hometown of Cleveland and entered the field of television. Eventually, he became a member of a local fishing club, North Coast Bass Anglers Association, serving as its president and tournament director for several years. It was during this time that he and Gail A. Grizzell founded The Fishing Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving people’s lives through fishing.