Fly fishing for a community

Martha House, a junior at The Kinkaid School, created a nonprofit to give back to a Montana town that she loves to visit every summer.

I have gone to Ennis, Montana, every summer since I was born; it is my second home. My family goes there because we are part of a fishing ranch that my dad joined before he met my mom, and he has gone every year since then. I always look forward to spending two weeks every summer with my family and friends, fly-fishing, hiking and relaxing.

I have been fishing since I could hold a rod, and when I was 9, my dad taught me how to fly-fish, which I loved to do. When I was 13, I learned how to tie flies, and I really love to do that as well. I have been wanting to give back to the community that has given me so much, so this past summer, I started a nonprofit organization called Catch and Give.

Ennis has struggled economically for a long time; I have seen several of my favorite stores and restaurants shut down due to the economy. Realizing that I was now old enough to do something helpful, I brainstormed ways to give back, and with the help of some local friends, I decided that I would help the Ennis Community Children’s School. This is a preschool and daycare for children. They take the children to the library, park, aquatics center and more. Expenses, including field trips, are not cheap, and because of this, the school has been struggling financially.

When I heard about the school, I knew I wanted to help. I wanted to incorporate my love for fishing into helping the school, so I came up with the idea of a “Fish-A-Thon” in which people donate a predetermined amount of money per fish caught during a float trip. During one week this fall, the first Fish-A-Thon took place, and we raised $30,180 for the school, an amount exceeding my highest dreams! I am so happy that Catch and Give has already had such great success, and look forward to doing more. Please visit catchandgive.com for more information.

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