HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (July 16, 2005) - Energizer shined a light on children today through a $25,000 donation to the Children's Miracle Network that will benefit the Children's Hospital in Little Rock. The donation was made as a tribute to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour anglers who collectively maintained a 98-percent live-release rate throughout the tournament season, which ended today at the 2005 Forrest L. Wood Championship. The championship took place on Arkansas' Lake Hamilton.
Since 2001, Energizer has offered this incentive to FLW Tour anglers to encourage conservation measures throughout the tournament season. Energizer has donated a total of $125,000 over the past five years to branches of the Children's Miracle Network located in or near the communities where the Forrest L. Wood Championship was held.
Heather Cass, community development coordinator for Children's Hospital, accepted the check at the final day of the Forrest L. Wood Championship. Each year more than 17 million children in North America receive medical treatment thanks to the 170 Children's Hospitals in the United States and Canada that are members of Children's Miracle Network.
"We're extremely proud to have once again maintained a high live-release rate throughout the 2005 Wal-Mart FLW Tour season," said Charlie Evans, president and CEO of FLW Outdoors. "It's a credit to the commitment of our anglers to continually improve some of the finest fisheries in America. We're equally excited that Energizer has found a way to recognize the importance of conservation while benefiting the local Children's Miracle Network member hospital."
This year's donation will go into the general fund until the board of directors meets at the end of the year, at which time the funds will be specifically allocated based on the greatest needs. Cass said Wal-Mart has been devotedly funding the Children's Miracle Network since 1987. "Wal-Mart, Energizer and FLW Outdoors have been real supportive of our efforts," Cass said.