Miss California Rodeo
Salinas 2014, Jynel Gularte, will take a hiatus from what she normally does to
promote the California Rodeo Salinas at other rodeos and parades on April 25th
and instead will do something unique as part of the Wrangler National Patriot
Program. Jynel will participate in the Monterey Bay Veteran’s (MBV) annual
salmon derby. Hundreds of disabled Veterans and Wounded Troops from around the
state will board several party boats and dozens of private vessels for a day of
salmon fishing on Monterey Bay. The boats launch at 6am on April 25th
from the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey at 32 Cannery Row at Foam Street. In
addition to a day of fishing, participants are provided three meals during the event:
a welcoming dinner on Friday April 24th, then a light breakfast and awards
banquet luncheon on Saturday April 25th, where prizes are distributed.
The California
Rodeo Salinas participates annually in the Wrangler National Patriot Program, a
program created to provide funding and support for America’s wounded and fallen
soldiers and their families. This nation-wide program allows rodeo committees
to choose a local charity to raise awareness and funds for; that charity here
is the Monterey Bay Veterans, Inc.
Monterey Bay Veterans,
Inc. offers sports rehabilitation therapy for Veterans and Wounded Troops. Their
mission statement reads: Monterey Bay Veterans
Inc. (MBV) is a volunteer based, non-profit organization which exists
to honor and support those who have served and sacrificed for our nation.
Ultimately, integration of the physically challenged community into normal
daily activities and recreation is the core of MBV’s mission. MBV uses a
wide variety of marine and land based services and activities to focus on
possibilities and potential. This is accomplished by accommodating and
challenging physical limitations and reducing emotional stress through
social integration.
MBV’s Executive
Director, John Whitacre, says that fishing is the great equalizer. Their fishing
programs allow Veterans who are adjusting to their life with injuries or other
challenges to feel normal and to do something that they most likely did before
their military service. Beyond fishing, the Monterey Bay Veterans has added a
dive program including a highly modified and customized dive boat, the only one
of its kind in the world, which allows someone with such extensive injuries as
a quad amputee to scuba dive safely and comfortably.
To sponsor a
Veteran in the 2015 MBV Salmon Derby with a $200 donation, please go to http://www.carodeo.com/events/2015/wrangler-national-patriot-program
To learn more about
the Monterey Bay Veterans visit www.mbv.org.
To learn more about the Wrangler National
Patriot program visit http://www.wranglernationalpatriot.com/wnp_home.php
To coordinate media coverage of
the event(s), please contact Mandy Linquist at mlinquist@carodeo.com or John Whitacre
at mbvinc@pacbell.net.
About
the California Rodeo
The California Rodeo Salinas
will take place July 16-19, 2015. The California Rodeo Association is a
not-for-profit organization that strives to preserve and promote the traditions
of the California Rodeo Salinas and the West. We support the community and
other non-profit organizations through the staging of the annual California
Rodeo Salinas and other year round operations of the Salinas Sports Complex.
Through donation of our facility, vending and fundraising opportunities during
Rodeo and other events, the California Rodeo Association returns between
$200,000 and $300,000 annually to local non-profits. For more information about
the California Rodeo Salinas, log on to www.CARodeo.com or call the California Rodeo Office at 831-775.3100. 'Like' the California Rodeo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CARodeoSalinas or follow us on twitter @CaliforniaRodeo for
updates, photos and more.