FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that the annual FLW Will Fish For Kids charity bass-fishing tournament held each year on Beaver Lake in conjunction with the Walmart FLW Tour has been renamed the FLW Will Fish for Kids – Bill Kerr Memorial Charity Tournament to honor northwest Arkansas luminary Bill Kerr.
Kerr lived most of his life in Bentonville, Arkansas and worked for Walmart Stores, Inc., for more than 25 years before moving on to work with Outdoor Cap, Inc. Kerr served on the board of the Igloo Corporation and loved golf and fishing. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the FLW Will Fish for Kids tournament and Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
"Bill Kerr touched so many lives," said Paul Mahan, CEO of Outdoor Cap. "We are delighted to honor his legacy through this partnership with FLW and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Fishing was one of Bill’s greatest passions. He loved this event and cared deeply for its purpose."
Each year Walmart, FLW and the Children’s Miracle Network team to host the FLW Will Fish for Kids – Bill Kerr Memorial Charity Tournament to benefit the Dental Clinic at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Pro anglers from the FLW Tour take corporate teams fishing on Beaver Lake in a one day tournament where 100 percent of the proceeds are donated to the hospital. More than $76,000 was raised at the 2014 auction and tournament, and more than $648,000 has been raised for the Dental Clinic since 2005.
"Bill was a great friend to FLW and a key supporter of this tournament and the Northwest Arkansas community," said Kathy Fennel, president of operations at FLW. "It is our privilege to honor the memory of Bill Kerr by naming our annual Will Fish for Kids charity tournament after him."
The 2015 Will Fish for Kids – Bill Kerr Memorial Charity Tournament will take place at Beaver Lake on Monday, April 27 at Prairie Creek Park Marina in Rogers, Arkansas.
Multiple event sponsorship opportunities are available at various levels, and 100 percent of proceeds will benefit Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Event organizers are also seeking gift bag and silent auction item donations. For more information contact FLW Community Outreach Manager Allie Gibbs at (270) 252-1594)
ABOUT FLW
FLW is the industry’s premier tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2015 over the course of 240 tournaments across five tournament circuits, four of which provide an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated "FLW" television show and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.
By: Joe Opager, Director of Public Relations
