Port/City Community Benefit Fund Donation Makes A Splash in the Local Community
[Oxnard, California – March 28, 2024] The Port of Hueneme and City of Port Hueneme joined Reel Guppy founder, Kevin Brannon, to celebrate the two-year anniversary of the Reel Guppy Dockside Learning Center — an amazing addition to the local coastal community. Dedicated to connecting local youth with education and fishing experiences, Reel Guppy was thrilled to celebrate their success alongside community members, partners, and program participants.
Check Presentation from City and Port Officials
Located at Fisherman’s Wharf in the picturesque Channel Islands Harbor, this innovative facility serves as a hub for community engagement, education, and marine exploration.
Residents from across Ventura County also came to celebrate and tour the new center alongside Bannon and the Reel Guppy family. During the event, Port of Hueneme and City of Port Hueneme officials joined together to proudly present a check in the amount of $5,000 from the joint Community Benefit Fund to support long-time partner Reel Guppy and their new Dockside Learning Center.
“One of the coolest things we do is take kids out to Channel Islands, which is just nine miles away,” said Kevin Brannon, founder of Reel Guppy and the Dockside Learning Center. “People from all around the world come out here to see it, but our kids don’t really get exposed to it. Some of these kids might want to be marine biologists, and where’s a greater place to study than their own backyard.”
The Reel Guppy Dockside Learning Center is more than just a physical space, it represents the organization’s commitment to empowering youth through outdoor activities and adventures. Brannon, a fourth-generation resident of Port Hueneme, developed the Reel Guppy Dockside Learning Center with a vision of creating a place where young minds can thrive, learn, and build life skills while being surrounded by the beauty of the ocean.
Kevin Brannon Speaking at the Celebration
“Kevin’s visionary program is a beacon of hope for the families of Port Hueneme, and we are proud to support his dedication to empowering local youth through outdoor fishing adventures,” said Misty Perez, Mayor of the City of Port Hueneme. “His passion for fishing and marine education has touched the lives of thousands and created lasting memories and a love for the ocean.”
Family is at the heart of Reel Guppy’s mission which is why the center was a necessary next step in the facilitation of Reel Guppy’s family-centered workshops and clinics. These workshops and clinics encourage family bonding, teach fishing techniques, and promote responsible stewardship of our shared marine resources all while nurturing leadership and empowering youth to make a positive impact in their local communities.
“Kevin and Reel Guppy supply everything from fishing poles, bait, and gear, so it’s no cost to our community, providing a unique opportunity that some might not experience otherwise” said Port Hueneme Mayor Pro Tem, Martha McQueen-Legohn.” Kevin has a gift in teaching about the environment by instilling a love for the ocean and creating responsible stewards, while also allowing us to connect with nature and unplug from technology.”
Bannon launched the Reel Guppy Program with a clear purpose: To provide a positive and cost-free environment for kids who live along our coast.
“Reel Guppy’s mission is to provide a positive environment for our youth,” said Jess Ramirez, Vice President of the Board of Oxnard Harbor Commissioners of the Port of Hueneme. “The outdoor adventures, combined with education, instill valuable life lessons.”
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Since 2011, Reel Guppy Outdoors Inc. has been a beacon of adventure, opportunity, and community education. We provide local youth and their families with education and fishing outings at no cost. Our mission is to create a positive environment through outdoor experiences, emphasizing education, leadership, stewardship, and team building. Together, we empower participants to enjoy our waters and beaches while promoting good stewardship of natural resources.
About the Community Benefit Fund
The Community Benefit Fund (CBF) was established in 2015 by The Port and City of Port Hueneme to achieve the mutual goal of enriching the local community through a spirit of collaboration. When The Port’s annual revenue exceeds $13 million, an amount of $100,000 is allocated to the CBF for The Port and City of Port Hueneme to come together and invest this funding in the community. By collaboratively investing in recreational, public safety, environmental, as well as community and economic development programs, The Port and City of Hueneme ensure that the community continues to thrive and prosper.
The Port of Hueneme is one of the most productive and efficient commercial trade gateways for niche cargo on the West Coast. Five locally elected Port Commissioners govern the Port. The Port consistently ranks among the top ten U.S. Ports for automobiles and fresh produce. Port operations support the community by bringing $2.8 billion in economic activity and creating 24,997 trade-related jobs. Trade through the Port of Hueneme generates more than $236 million in direct and related state and local taxes, which fund vital community services. In 2017, the Port of Hueneme became the first Port in California to become Green Marine certified and was voted the Greenest Port in the U.S. at the Green Shipping Summit. www.Portofh.org.
To learn more about the Community Benefit Fund visit: https://www.portofhueneme.org/cbf.
About the City of Port Hueneme
The City of Port Hueneme (pronounced “Why-nee-mee”) is a unique community along Ventura County’s Gold Coast just south of the City of Oxnard and Channel Islands Harbor. Port Hueneme is unique because of its rich history, culture, and traditions, dating back to the Chumash Indians who made their home here for centuries and because of its long-established, close relationship with the Port, U.S. Navy’s Port Hueneme and Point Mugu naval facilities. For more information visit: https://www.ci.port-hueneme.ca.us/
