By Gary Curreri
Sun Sentinel Correspondent
Jul 08, 2021 4:37 PM
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Delray Beach Police Officer Norman St. Martin gives King Anderson encouragement during a recent fishing outing. (Neilsonsky Noel / Courtesy)
A total of 27 Delray Beach boys were treated to a Father’s Day of fishing by Delray Beach Police officers and firefighters and other men in the community at Lake Ida.
The officers and men took the boys on boats and personal watercraft then fed them pizza as a reward for good grades and conduct.
“The kids would never have had this opportunity,” said C. Ron Allen, the title founder of the KOP Mentoring Network, which organized the fishing day. “Many of our young boys don’t have a positive male figure in their lives, so this was a great opportunity for them and they had the time of their lives. They caught some fish and some had never ridden on Jet Skis before.”
Kenton Ferguson learns the art of fishing from Delray Beach Police Sgt. Oscar Leon. (Neilsonsky Noel / Courtesy)
It is one of the many projects that Allen tackles through his KOP Mentoring Network, which is a character-building, mentorship, and gang prevention program designed to foster leadership, academic success, and civic-mindedness in youth ages 7 to 17.
In its 30th year, the organization runs a STEM Summer Camp that teaches academics in a nontraditional way. In addition to the fishing event, they also had a day out on the golf course.
Allen has a greater need, however, for the program that caters to youth from Broward County to Riviera Beach.
Delray Beach Police Officer Norman St. Martin shares some pointers with King Anderson from the banks of Lake Ida. (Neilsonsky Noel / Courtesy)
“Our greatest need is to find a permanent home,” he said. “We have used old school buses in the past and we are not giving up.”
