Yamaha Marine and Skeeter Boats Co-Sponsor Charity Bass Tournament
for St. Jude Children’S Research Hospital
Yamaha Marine and Skeeter Boats became the first ever presenting sponsors of the annual Dick Hiley St. Jude Bass Classic on May 2-4. The tournament, which took place in Wabasha, Minnesota, celebrates a community of bass anglers from across the Upper Midwest who come together once a year in support of the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The 27th annual event brought together 96 competing boats and raised more than $1.1 million for the kids of St. Jude.
“Competitive fishing is more than just a sport, it’s a family,” said Scott Higgins, Division Manager, Outboard Marketing. “That sense of community is what drives us to step up when there’s a need - there’s no greater need than supporting the future of our children, especially those facing illness. Through this special tournament, we hope to share the joy of fishing and make a meaningful difference in their lives.”
The two-day tournament featured a weekend full of activities, including live weigh-ins on both Saturday and Sunday, a celebratory dinner banquet on Saturday evening and fundraising awards. The tournament concluded Sunday afternoon with an awards ceremony. Tournament champions J.J. Schultz and Josh Sie of Mondovi, Wisconsin, walked away with $25,000 after securing the top spot with a total weight of 45 pounds, 14 ounces. 63 teams each raised more than $5,000 to qualify for a chance to win a ZX 200 Skeeter boat powered by a Yamaha 200-horsepower V MAX SHO outboard. Wyatt Stout and Shawn Bergsrud were the raffle winners of the new boat and outboard package.
In 1999, a group of anglers from Minnesota and Wisconsin, who shared a common love for both fishing and the kids of St. Jude, hosted the first Dick Hiley St. Jude Bass Classic. The tournament has raised more than $8.7 million to date.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Yamaha and Skeeter for their partnership and support of the Dick Hiley St. Jude Bass Classic,” said Gretchen Simon, St. Jude. “Their contributions have been instrumental in making this event a success and raising over $1.1 million for the kids of St. Jude. Together, we are making a significant impact in the fight against childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. We look forward to many more years of partnership and all the ways we will continue to impact the kids of St. Jude, together!”
Bob Starr, Yamaha Motor U.S.A. (YMUS)