Kindlewood Cares, Inc. · 501(c)(3)
A promise to my dad.Helping kids fight cancer.
We are a nonprofit that turns time on the water into money for childhood cancer care and research — and into outdoor adventures for kids facing life-threatening illness.
Why we exist
“Before he passed, he made one request: help kids fighting cancer, because he did not want them going through what he was going through.”
In March 2022 I lost my dad, Donald, to liver cancer. He was my best friend. We grew up camping, fishing and hunting together — the outdoors was where we connected, where we were ourselves.
I carried that request with me. Fishing has always given me peace and a connection to nature, and to him. So I asked myself what would happen if the thing I love most could honor the promise I made.
That is how Kindlewood Cares was born.
— Brian Barde, Founder
Three generations, one lake at a time. That is what he gave us, and it is why this organization exists.
KINDLEWOOD CARES
The name is not decoration. It is three words doing three jobs — and the last one is the reason the other two exist.
To light a fire. To spark something small that keeps burning long after the person who lit it has gone.
The woods, the water, the outdoors — where my dad and I connected, and what he passed on to me.
The promise. Care for kids in treatment, and for the families sitting beside them. That is who the fire is lit for.
Where the money goes
Two organizations, chosen because between them they cover both halves of the promise — fighting the disease, and giving kids something to look forward to while they do.
The Jimmy Fund
Supports Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's work in compassionate care and groundbreaking research. Since 1948 the Jimmy Fund has raised billions through the generosity of millions of people. We are proud to add our voice, and our fishing rods, to that.
The Outdoor Dream Foundation
Grants outdoor adventures — hunting, fishing, mentoring trips — to children under 21 diagnosed with terminal or life-threatening illness. Cost is covered for the child and a chaperone, with professional guides leading the way.
One rod a year, built by hand
Every season a one-of-a-kind fishing rod is built and raffled, with the proceeds going to The Jimmy Fund. It is the most personal thing we make — and it goes to someone who bought a ticket because they wanted to help.
The 2026 season
Five tournaments, fished from wherever you are. Here is where the season stands right now.
- Spring Slam Upcoming
- Summer Sizzle Upcoming
- Dog Days Derby Upcoming
- Fall Frenzy Upcoming
- Season Championship Upcoming
What we have done so far
We are small and we are honest about it. Every figure here comes from our books, and reports money actually sent — not what was projected.
2026 Charitable Giving Goal
Help us reach $2,500 for kids fighting cancer and youth outdoor programs.
$1,005 donated toward our $2,500 goal · as of September 6, 2026
How we raise it
Online bass fishing tournaments. You fish your own water, photograph your catch on a measuring board, and submit through an app. A Series membership is $30 for the year and each tournament is $25 to enter; the Kids Division is $5 with no membership needed.
Cast for a Cause
Our five-tournament season. The other 60% funds the prize pool for the anglers who compete, and processing fees come out of that pool — so charity receives a clean share of gross.
Or join the AOY Club
Membership is the most direct way to support us. Every tier competes equally for Angler of the Year — the only difference is how much goes to the mission. $18 of every membership funds the championship prize pool that anglers compete for; the rest goes to charity.
$18 to the prize pool
$18 to the prize pool
$18 to the prize pool
$18 to the prize pool
In 2026, 16 members contributed $1,120, with $832 committed to the mission and $288 funding the championship prize pool. Membership dollars are disbursed to our charity partners as the season closes out. That makes membership the most efficient way to support us, and it is why the club exists.
Membership provides Angler of the Year eligibility, which has value, so not every dollar is tax-deductible. The written acknowledgment we send with your membership states our good-faith estimate of that value and the deductible amount. Kindlewood Cares does not provide tax advice — please consult your own advisor.
Every cast, every tournament, every dollar brings us closer to honoring my dad's wish — and helps a kid fight cancer, and the family fighting it beside them.— Brian Barde, Founder
EIN 99-2506111
not administrators.
See the giving record →