Youth

Federation Nation of Washington Anglers

Joey Nania (Two-time Junior Bassmaster World Champ) and Bobby Forster Net $1600 for Rypien Foundation and YWCA Child Youth Services in Zak Charity Open Fund Raising Event

By, Joel Nania

Northern Quest Casino, Spokane, WA – July 26, 2009

Federation Nation angler Joey Nania,(2005 and 2008 Junior Bassmaster World Champion) teamed up with Bobby Forster, also a Federation Nation Angler and host of Liberty Lake based Columbia Country Sport Fishing Show to help raise funds for the Rypien Foundation – providing hope to local families battling childhood cancer and the YWCA Child Youth Services of Spokane last weekend at the 10th Annual Zak!Charity Open which is held by Irv Zacheim of Zak Designs. The two, both members of Spokane's Inland Empire Bass Club, combined efforts to offer a private bass fishing tournament for 4 on Spokane’s Long Lake. The successful bidder in the 600 plus person banquet crowd was Tim Haymes of Spokane.

Nania, the Two-time Junior Bassmaster World Champion has been raising funds for the Rypien Foundation since winning his first world championship in 2005. Forster is the host of Columbia Country Sport Fishing. This brings the total of Nania’s fund raising efforts for the Foundation to over $11,600.

Joey on the event, “It feels great to help with the kids and their families who have to deal with cancer. I plan on working with the Rypien Foundation for my entire career.” Bobby Forster added, “This was a great event and I enjoyed the evening and being a part of helping these families in need.”

Mark Rypien started the Rypien Foundation several years after losing his own son Andrew to cancer. His desire is to bring hope to families and to help them cope with the challenges that they will encounter on the road to fighting childhood cancer. For more information on these organizations go to www.rypienfoundation.org. and www.ywca.org/spokane.