The Cancer Concern Center of Point Pleasant Beach is thrilled to announce it has been selected by Clarks Landing, Point Pleasant, as the charity beneficiary for the 3rd Annual Clarks Landing Fish ‘N’ for the Cause Tournament.
This year’s fluke/flounder, bluefish, and striped bass tournament began on July 1 and will run through November 15. A tournament finale will take place at Clarks Landing in December, with prizes for the winning anglers.
Clarks Landing will donate the proceeds from the Fish ‘N’ for the Cause tournament to the Cancer Concern Center. In addition, Clarks Landing will not charge any entry fees and, instead, will ask each angler to make a tax-deductible donation to the Cancer Concern Center.
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As has been done in the past, Fish ‘N’ for the Cause participants will have the opportunity to donate their fish to Lunch Break, a local soup kitchen in Red Bank.
The Cancer Concern Center is a small non-profit that has been assisting local cancer survivors in Point Pleasant Beach for nearly 20 years.
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Unlike larger charities, the Cancer Concern Center is completely focused on supporting women and men with cancer who live in the Point Pleasant area.
In a warm and welcoming setting, the Cancer Concern Center offers support groups, nutritional counseling, yoga classes, new wigs, and day-to-day emotional assistance in Point Pleasant Beach.
Dedicated volunteers operate the Cancer Concern Center on a year-round basis. The Cancer Concern Center is not affiliated with any national charities. It does not charge any mandatory fees for programs.
As other cancer support programs in Ocean and Monmouth Counties close their doors, there is an escalating demand for the Cancer Concern Center’s services. Fish ‘N’ for the Cause will enable the Cancer Concern Center to expand services in Point Pleasant Beach and the surrounding area.
According to Clarks Landing General Manager Michael Longhi, Clarks Landing wanted to support a local non-profit with this year’s tournament. “When we became aware of the Cancer Concern Center and the great work the volunteers do in our local community,” Longhi explains, “we knew we wanted to get involved. As a small non-profit serving Point Pleasant, the Cancer Concern Center is the perfect fit for Clarks Landing.”
Susan Brown, the tournament director at Clarks Landing, concurs, stating, “There’s been so much excitement about Fish ‘N’ for the Cause,” Brown shares, “and this year, we really wanted to inspire other people to become involved with a local charity. We’re encouraging anglers to enjoy the tournament all season long and donate to the Cancer Concern Center. With Fish ‘N’ for the Cause, we think we can make a real difference locally.”
The Cancer Concern Center points out that, nationwide, while there is a significant focus on “pink programs” connected to breast cancer, the Cancer Concern Center does not receive these funds. Well-meaning groups may organize fundraisers for national cancer charities, but it can be unclear how the money actually is used. In the Cancer Concern Center’s experience, the money does not remain in the Point Pleasant area.
With Fish ‘N’ for the Cause, Clarks Landing will donate the tournament proceeds to the Cancer Concern Center. In turn, the Cancer Concern Center will utilize 100 percent of the funds for local support programs. Every dollar will remain in the local community, at the Cancer Concern Center, benefitting local cancer survivors.
According to Point Pleasant Beach resident Lisa Montalbano, officer manager at the Cancer Concern Center, “We’re thrilled that Clarks Landing has picked the Cancer Concern Center for this wonderful fundraiser. Clarks Landing is such an historic part of the Point Pleasant community. For the Cancer Concern Center to receive the proceeds from Fish ‘N’ for the Cause is huge news for our small organization!”
Point Pleasant resident Heather Keefe, a member of the Cancer Concern Center’s Board of Directors, notes that, each year, the Cancer Concern Center struggles to raise $50,000 to cover its basic operational expenses.
“Ideally, the Cancer Concern Center would raise enough money for a $100,000 annual budget,” Keefe explains, “so the program director could take a small salary for the first time in several years and the center could offer more programs. Proceeds from Fish 'N' for a Cause will help tremendously with this effort, because the Cancer Concern Center depends on local donations in order to keep its doors open. We’re so grateful to the Clarks Landing team for their generosity.”
For details about the tournament or to register, please contact Susan Brown at Clarks Landing: 732-899-5559. To make a donation to the Cancer Concern Center, please visit:
www.crowdrise.com/CancerConcernCenterDoorsOpen or “Cancer Concern Center” on Facebook.
