Donor Societies

Donors who support the International Game Fish Association with gifts of $2,500 or more are invited to join one of the Donor Societies. Whatever level you choose, you are a vital part of the IGFA and we sincerely appreciate your generosity.

Involvement in this prestigious group of individual donors reflects a shared belief in the importance of the IGFA's role in the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices through science, education, rule making and record keeping.

For more information please contact Eric Combast at ecombast@igfa.org or 954-924-4325.

Each level of giving in the IGFA Donor Societies receives

• Wooden or bronze circle hook sculpture by world renowned artist and IGFA Representative David Wirth
  *Heilner Society members receive wooden sculpture, Firth Society and above receive bronze sculpture
• Recognition on the IGFA Donor Wall in the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum lobby
• Society Recognition Certificate
• Custom Society Membership Card
• Society lapel pin
• Recognition in the IGFA World Record Game Fishes book
• Recognition in the International Angler
• Recognition in the Annual Report
• Recognition on the IGFA website
• Carpenter Society and above will receive a naming opportunity in the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum

The Lerner Society recognizes contributions made to the IGFA through estate and financial planning. Membership is open to individuals who would like to support the IGFA through planned gifts. IGFA will accept the following as membership in the Lerner Society:

• Bequest
• Charitable Trusts
• Charitable Lead Trust
• Gifts of Life Insurance
• Gifts of Retirement Accounts
• Personal Property
• Pre-approved Collectables

Lerner Society members will receive a Lerner Society lapel pin after IGFA has received legal documentation forms that detail the gift (copy of the will, trust, life policy, etc.). Members will also receive an engraved plaque on the IGFA Donor Society Wall located in the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, and recognition in the International Angler, on the IGFA website, in the Annual Report and in the IGFA World Record Game Fishes book.

These generous donors have joined Michael Lerner in planning for the future of recreational fishing and sustaining the work of the IGFA:

Gloria & Capt. Nelson Applegate
Jerry & Deborah Dunaway
Jodi & Jeff Storm Harkavy
Mark Hoffman
Bob and Sally Kurz
Terence C. Smith
Jack Tapscott
Capt. Rufus Wakeman
J.P. “Gator” Wilson Family Foundation

Hemingway Society
$1,000,000

Ernest Hemingway's literary prowess and thirst for adventure made him a perfect match for the IGFA. In August 1940, Ernest Hemingway was named a Vice President of the IGFA, a title held until his death in 1961. He was and still is one of the most recognized ambassadors of this organization. A donor contributing, accumulating or pledging $1,000,000 (pledge payable over ten years) is recognized as a Hemingway Society Member.

Donors contributing $1,000,000 or more annually also receive

• VIP table for 10 at the IGFA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
• VIP table for 10 at the IGFA International Auction & Banquet
• Five-day fishing excursion (four days offshore/one day inshore) for six with the IGFA President. (Location to be determined).

Francesca LaMonte spent her career performing extraordinary services for fishing as a scientist, author, editor and founding member of the International Game Fish Association. She was the IGFA's first secretary and served in that role for 39 years. She was appointed to the first executive committee and provided invaluable service as an editor for all the IGFA's early publications and as a steward for the organization. A donor contributing, accumulating or pledging $500,000 (pledge payable over ten years) will be recognized as a LaMonte Society member.

Donors contributing $500,000 or more annually also receive

• Preferred table for 10 at the IGFA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
• VIP table for 10 at the IGFA International Auction & Banquet
• Four-day fishing excursion (three offshore/one inshore) for four with the IGFA President. (Location to be determined.

These generous donors join Francesca LaMonte in creating a legacy of exceptional giving to the sport of recreational angling:

George G. Matthews
Paxson Offield
Robert E. Rich Jr.

Philip Wylie was the writer who introduced deep-sea angling to a majority of Americans with his Crunch and Des series. In 1941, he was appointed IGFA Field Representative and Vice President and for many years, together with Michael Lerner, was responsible for writing and re-writing IGFA rules and reviewing world record claims. A donor contributing, accumulating or pledging $100,000 (pledge payable over ten years) is recognized as a Wylie Society member.

Donors contributing $100,000 or more annually also receive

• Preferred table for 10 at the IGFA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
• Preferred table for 10 at the IGFA International Auction & Banquet
• Two entries to the IGFA Expedition of your choice (must be used within 12 months of the contribution).

Alongside Philip Wylie, these generous donors are supporting their vision for the future of sportfishing:

Gloria & Capt. Nelson Applegate
Kevin Clark
Johnny Morris
Don Tyson

William K. Gregory was Chairman of the Ichthyology Department at the Museum of Natural History in New York City. When the International Game Fish Association was founded on June 7, 1939, Gregory became the IGFA's first President. A donor contributing, accumulating or pledging $50,000 (pledge payable over ten years) is recognized as a Gregory Society member.

Donors contributing $50,000 or more annually also receive

• Tickets and preferred seating for four at the IGFA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
• Tickets and preferred seating for four at the IGFA International Auction & Banquet
• One entry to the IGFA Expedition of your choice (must be used within 12 months of the contribution).

These generous donors share William K. Gregory's leadership with their gifts to support the work of the IGFA :

Tim Choate
William Entenmann
"Hollywood" Carl Ignacuinos
Robert Kurz
Carlos F. Pellas
The Shannon Revocable Trust

During William Carpenter's time with the IGFA he served as President (1960 - 1975) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (1975 - 1987), but is best remembered as one of the most outstanding bluefin tuna anglers of all time. Considering all of his angling achievements, Bill Carpenter's most important legacy is the service he gave to other anglers worldwide. A donor contributing, accumulating or pledging $25,000 (pledge payable over five years) is recognized as a Carpenter Society member.

Donors contributing $25,000 or more annually also receive

• Tickets and preferred seating for four at the IGFA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
• Tickets and preferred seating for four at the IGFA International Auction & Banquet

With their support of the IGFA, these generous donors join Bill Carpenter in doing more for our sport around the globe:

Roy and Jackie Cronacher
Michael L. Farrior
Molly Fleming
Mark Hoffman
Ron and Diana McCall
Ocean Reef Rod & Gun Club, Inc.
John F. “Jack” Willits

Elwood K. Harry is remembered most for the immense contributions he made to the international sport of game fishing and the founding of the IGFA. He helped develop a voice for the IGFA, which is heard and respected by governments and policy makers of all countries, especially in relation to issues of conservation. The legacy of Elwood K. Harry is dedicated to supporting the interests of recreational anglers from all walks of life and economic strata the world over. A donor contributing, accumulating or pledging $10,000 (pledge payable over five years) is recognized as a Harry Society member.

Donors contributing $10,000 or more annually also receive

• Tickets and preferred seating for two at the IGFA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
• Tickets and preferred seating for two at the IGFA International Auction & Banquet

These donors join Elwood K. Harry in making recreational fishing accessible to anglers everywhere through their generous gifts to the IGFA:

Dr. Martin Arostegui
Betsy Bullard
Gary Carter
The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation
Jeff Storm Harkavy
The William & Mattie Wattis Harris Foundation
Hell’s Bay Boatworks
Bob & Sally Kurz
Michael Levitt

Clive Firth, one of Australia's top sportsmen in the 1930s and a recognized envoy of the country, was an early and ardent promoter of a standardized international angling code, and was a key figure in organizing the International Game Fish Association. Firth recognized that international cooperation would be essential for the development of sportfishing and pursued his vision with vigor and imagination. A donor contributing, accumulating or pledging $5,000 (pledge payable over five years) is recognized as a Firth Society member.

The gifts that these generous donors have made are working to further Clive Firth's vision for ethical angling worldwide:

Explorer, writer, filmmaker, and field representative in ichthyology for the American Museum of Natural History, Van Campen Heilner was a staple in the early days of the IGFA. He was a great contributor to the collective knowledge of game fish around the world, but most notably, Heiner was a devoted surf caster and a towering figure in the development of the sport. A donor contributing, accumulating or pledging $2,500 (pledge payable over one year) is recognized as a Heilner Society member.

These donors join Van Campen Heilner in contributing to the development of our sport with their generous gifts: