Photos by Jim DeOliveira
By William Tauro 

This year’s Fishin with a Mission Autism Awareness Event was another huge success! 

The weather was a little wet but perfect everyone who came out to be part of it. 

The day began with 2 great fishing tournaments the first one was the “Saltwater Fishing Tournament” that kicked off the day with saltwater anglers from Mystic Wellington Yacht Club, Winter Hill Yacht Club and Riverside Yacht Club landing some hefty stripe bass. 

Mystic Wellington was able to bring the trophy back to its club again with fishing vessel ” Maggie May” and Captain Jack Jandreau winning 1st with a stripe bass fish weighing in at 29 lbs, 43 inches long. 

The Freshwater fishing tournament was even more incredible with more than 25 teams of bass fishing anglers from all over New England fishing the Mystic and Charles Rivers. 

But the highlight of the day was the Autism Awareness Event that was hosted by Mystic Wellington Yacht Club Commodore Joe DiGirolamo and the club’s amazing members who teamed up with Medford Mayor Stephanie Muccini Burke and the My Little Buddy’s Boat organization. 

The event included fun activities such as fishing, boat rides, waterslide, bounces, dunk tanks and games for children and their families affected by Autism. 

Many students from the Boston Higashi School , the New England Center for Children and the Nashoba Learning Group were invited to attend and all the children had a great time enjoying some summer activities. 

Proceeds for this event will be donated to these three schools.

The day also included a barbecue for everyone and music with activists for the children through the day. 
All in all the event was a great day and thousands of dollars were also raised to help create Autism Awareness and help aid these schools. 

If anyone would like to donate and help this great cause please check out the mylittlebuddysboat.com website to learn more.