Today we’d like to introduce you to Misty Wells.
Hi, Misty. I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
In 2014, I founded “A Reel Future,” a non-profit working with children in foster care, taking them fishing and teaching them about conservation. 10 years ago, I realized a need in our country with foster children; I also learned how many thousands of children are in foster care at any given time in the USA. Sadly, thousands of kids are without a family, so many kids are given or taken away, and no one wants them. I am an avid angler and have always had a passion for fishing and the outdoors; that is how I raised my children. I realized from my husband sharing his story of growing up in foster care how something like fishing can change someone’s life. I look back on fond memories of fishing with my dad growing up and realize that thousands of kids do not have that person in their life to take them fishing.
I started “A Reel Future” to take children in foster care fishing, but it has become so much more over the 10 years I have been doing it. “A Reel Future” started simply taking children in foster care fishing, and since 2014, I have taken almost 4,000 kids out on the water, 3,821 so far. It means so much to them and me to create positive memories and replace bad ones with good ones. Nothing can match the smile on a child’s face when they catch their first fish. It is so much more than fishing for these kids; they get to forget all their troubles and focus on something positive; it teaches them self-confidence and gives them a sense of accomplishment.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a non-profit, even one as small as ours takes revenue; of course, we started with an idea. I knew it was something that was put on my heart to do, so we paid for almost everything the first year on our own out of our pockets. We do small fundraisers throughout the year, and a few folks will donate yearly in support. Finding children to take fishing was challenging, but that is the easy part; there are so many. I want to take “A Reel Future’ to other States in the US and expand our mission. I have been able to travel to LA, TX, and Georgia, taking children there fishing, and I hope to expand to more States.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the host and producer of “Let’s Take It Outside,” It is an outdoor adventure travel show starting its 5th season. Of course, I have been running “A Reel Future” for 10 years, well before I was a TV Host. I love what I do; I get to travel, fish, and experience different destinations around the USA and beyond and encourage folks to get outside and try new things. I have now started airing on Discovery Channel along with several other networks and am blessed to be able to have this type of occupation. “A Reel Future” is still the best thing I put my heart into; although I don’t get paid a dime, it is my favorite type of outdoors, “with the kids.”
Please talk to us about happiness and what makes you happy.
Giving back to children helps them see something positive in a very hostile world and are in very adverse situations. I love kids; they are my favorite people. I love fishing and the outdoors. It is my favorite way to spend my time so that I can combine the two. What could be better than that?
Pricing:
- It costs us $25 to take a foster child fishing
Contact Info:
- Website: www.areelfuture.com and www.mistywells.com
- Instagram: mistyewells
- Facebook: misty wells
- Linkedin: Misty Wells
- Twitter: outdoor darlin
- Youtube: misty wells
Image Credits
Credit Misty Wells
