He’s a multi-media fishing celebrity, but Capt. Bill Miller has also established a long history of benevolent and charitable activity. Recently, the third-generation Tampa native was recognized for this work with the Gayle Sierens Volunteer of the Year in Philanthropy award, presented by the 2014 National Philanthropy Day committee.
The award honors the individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills in coordinating groups of volunteers for major fundraising projects. Selection criteria included exceptional skills in coordinating and motivating groups of volunteers for fundraising projects for the benefit of charitable institutions and a commitment to the advancement of philanthropy.
Miller was nominated by Metropolitan Ministries, the Tampa, Florida-based non-profit organization that provides assistance to needy families. For the past five years, Miller has organized and promoted Fishing for Hope – a Thanksgiving food drive in which participants try to fill a fishing boat with donated food items. Each year has seen record donations delivering great impact to Metropolitan Ministries’ seasonal needs.
“I think it is very important to give back,” Miller said. “I have been blessed to be able to do the things I enjoy and I feel that it’s my duty to look for opportunities to help those less fortunate. Help can be time, talent or treasure; but everyone can do something to help another person. There is great joy in watching the people you help. In my case I like the old saying: ‘The joy is in the giving, not the receiving,’”.
Also factoring into Miller’s recognition were his many other community involvements. Among them:
- One of the founding Executive Committee members of the GTE Suncoast Classic, a Senior PGA Tour event that has generated over $6.45 million tolocal charities during its 21-year existence. (1989 – 1999)
- Tournament Chairman for Chuck Lamar Grand Slam Celebrity Fishing Tournament, which benefit the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. To date, over $2.96 million donated to PCF. (1999-2009)
- Founding member of Treasure Island Charities, which produced sport-fishing tournaments to benefit conservation and youth programs. (Early 90’s)
Miller, the host of World Fishing Network’s “Fishing with Bill Miller,” has been a leader in the sport-fishing industry for more than 30 years. On the personal side, he said he’s also committed to leaving a legacy of benevolence.
“It’s important to remember that you can impact a person’s life just by helping or giving,” Miller said. “Hopefully, the receiver will return the favor to someone else and that’s how the chain of helping and giving is established. My sincere desire is that the example I present to my family shows the joy of giving and helping and motivates others to continue the chain.”
Clearly that objective has already born fruits, as Fishing for Hope has consistently attracted volunteer support from other outdoor media personalities and area fishing guides – including Miller’s son Capt. Billy Miller. This, the elder Miller said, exemplifies the character of those who embrace the outdoors.
“Occasionally, people ask me: ‘What is the fishing community? Is there such a thing?’”, Miller said. “Well, the fishing community is made up of people from all walks of life. They are regular people who have enjoyed the water and the outdoors and feel blessed to have had that opportunity. In response to that blessing, that others might not have had, the fishing community is proud to give back to the less fortunate. A way of being thankful and paying it forward.”
Rallying such support, Miller said, was remarkably simple – a clear testament to the giving nature of those involved with Fishing for Hope.
“Most people who don’t give or help have never been asked,” Miller said. “I asked a few of my fishing friends to help and they asked a few others and it snowballed into a cause that many in this fishing community have embraced for the purpose of helping others.”
Fishing with Bill Miller airs on World Fishing Network Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Wednesdays at 3 a.m. and 10 a.m., and Thursdays at 5 p.m. – the only fishing network solely dedicated to the angling lifestyle. WFN and WFN HD are available to more than 50 million cable, satellite and telecommunications households throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.
An established angling authority, Miller brings a multimedia pedigree anchored by 16 years as host of the popular cable TV show, “Hooked on Fishing.” Miller’s also a weekly columnist for the Tampa Tribune/TBO.com, a featured celebrity writer for various special event publications and the author of FISH SMART – CATCH MORE! – a user-friendly instructional book with 107 tips for better Florida fishing.
For more on Capt. Bill Miller, visit www.fishingwithbillmiller.com.