Folly Anglers Honored for Giving Back

By Jenny Peterson (Contact)
The Journal
Thursday, February 28, 2008

Fun, fishing and philanthropy.

The Folly Beach Anglers have it all. Since 1999, the nonprofit social club has met to catch up, catch fish and collect money for families in need on Folly Beach and James Island.

The group's recent donation of $800 and a variety of needed items to the Daniel Joseph Jenkins Institute for Children in North Charleston in December earned the Anglers the city of Folly Beach's Good Samaritan Award.

Anglers President Ken Holland and past President Daniel Culpepper accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

"It was time for them to be recognized," said Wallace Benson, Folly City Council member and founding father of the club.

Benson said the club was deserving of the award after eight years of providing help to those less fortunate. The club's foundation was built on helping others and doing a little fishing on the side. There are similar angler clubs around Charleston.

Benson, who once owned the Village Tackle Shop on Folly Beach, said it all started when a group of fishermen got together to do some good in the community.

"We really are a small group, but we try, and all the money we raise goes back into the community," he said. Benson serves as the club's secretary.

"We do a couple of fundraisers for people who are ill, and we started 'adopting' people," he explained. "We've donated to families, given money to people who are injured; we all chip in money for the organization."

Other efforts include giving needy families gift certificates to the Piggly Wiggly grocery store and Wal-Mart, giving out turkeys for Thanksgiving and dispensing free hot dogs and chili at the Folly Beach Halloween party. One of the members recently died, and Benson said the group made a donation in his honor to a local church.

The club is limited to 30 members who pay $15 in annual dues and participate in several fundraisers each year. Benson said there is usually about $1,500 in the group's general fund. Membership is limited because members didn't want the club to become too big, he said.

"The idea was to keep it simple," Benson said. "We didn't want to make this a job."

Holland said the club's biggest fundraising efforts are oyster roasts, the beer-bottle toss at the Sea and Sand Festival, a fish fry, four fishing tournaments and a barbecue. Members also donate their own money to the cause of helping others.

"Ninety percent of it is given out to needy families," said Holland.

The group meets each month, usually at the Folly Beach Crab Shack, to discuss fundraising efforts and plan fishing tournaments.

To keep it fishing-oriented, there's a friendly competition among the members to document the fish they catch. Trophies are given out each year to the member who catches the most fish, as well as the biggest fish, Holland said.

However, he adds, "Most of us don't take the fishing too seriously."

What members are serious about is helping in the community and maintaining good friendships.

"It's what Folly's about. It's another reason to get together with friends," Holland said. "If someone has an idea (for a family in need), they spearhead it."

Holland said many island businesses have donated food and other items to the club.

Folly Councilman Tim Goodwin said he enjoys his membership.

"We have great social times together," he said. "We fish some, and we do a lot of good work for the community."

Those interested in joining the club must be nominated by a current member.

There are four lifetime members: Benson; his father, Cliff Benson; his wife, Linda Benson; and Rick Stringer, a local attorney who helped the organization secure its nonprofit status.

There are currently 28 members of the Folly Beach Anglers. Contact Benson at 588-9147 for more information.