Colchester, VT — More than 60 elected and appointed officials and benefactors gathered on the banks of the Winooski River Monday morning to vie against each other for the prized, inaugural LCI Governor’s Cup.

More importantly, however, the participants came to highlight the value of mentoring and the role anglers can play in the lives of youngsters. The host, Lake Champlain International, Inc . or LCI to many, runs the Fishing For Friends mentoring program with its partners Community Friends at HowardCenter.

The LCI Governor’s Cup also marked the kickoff of Lake Champlain International, Inc.’s latest effort, the Champlain Fisheries Recovery Initiative (CFRI). CFRI is a partnership with Vermont’s Department of Fish and Wildlife to accelerate the restoration of species such as salmon, walleye, muskie, lake trout, sturgeon and eel.

Benefactors contributed $3,000 at the event, and Lake Champlain International, Inc. matched that with another $3,000 for a total of $6,000 for mentoring and Champlain conservation efforts.

The results of the hour-long, friendly derby were:

1st Place: Team Outdoors Magazine
2nd Place: Team Lanzetta
3rd Place: Team Agency of Natural Resources
4th Place: Team Agency of Agriculture
5th Place: Team HowardCenter

Private benefactors included Shawn Bartlett of Jericho, Jay Villanti of Williston, Billy Lanzetta of Colchester, and State Auditor Tom Salmon. Organizations contributing included Jolley Convenience Stores, Trout Unlimited Lake Champlain Chapter, HowardCenter and Outdoors Magazine.

The Governor’s team of youngsters, the Ambassadors of Angling, consisted of Jordan Ayer, 6; Kianna Ayer, 6; Emma Cosgrove, 9; Maggie Cosgrove, 5; and Joseph Pallas, 11.

Lake Champlain International, Inc., (LCI) is a conservation organization based in Colchester, Vt. LCI undertakes Lake Champlain conservation and education initiatives, funding them through fishing events. LCI’s principal fundraiser is the LCI Father’s Day Derby presented by Yamaha, which draws nearly 6,000 anglers from over 30 states to Lake Champlain for the three-day event. It begins June 14 and concludes June 16. For more information, call 802.879.3466 or visit http://www.mychamplain.net.