Each year, the Crookston Driftbusters Snowmobile Club raises proceeds through its annual Driftbusters Dash. This year, the organization named the event “Drive For Adam Parnow” in memory of Adam Parnow after a fatal plane crash last summer.
The “Drive For Adam Parnow” event took place on February 24 at IC Muggs in Crookston. The Driftbusters accumulated just over $4,000 in donations for Adam’s parents, Fred and Beth Parnow, who have started a program in Adam’s honor. The program is called ‘Get Kids Outdoors’. “Last year, we took over the ride,” said President of the Driftbusters Snowmobile Club Eric Proulx, “And decided we would determine who we felt would be a good organization within the community to donate funds to. With Adams passing last summer and Parnow’s establishing the ‘Get Kids Outdoors,’ they would be a prime candidate.”
Adam was known for being an advocate for the Driftbusters Club, and many knew him as an avid snowmobiler. Proulx explained that the decision to distribute the donations to the Parnows was easy. “This was a straightforward decision,” said Proulx, “With Adams’s passion for snowmobiling, fishing, and the outdoors in general and also being a member of the club. It was pretty much a no-brainer.”
After Adams’s passing, both Fred and Beth Parnow wanted to keep Adams’s legacy alive by starting an organization that embodied many of his interests and passions, which included outdoor activities and helping kids. “Get Kids Outdoors, what we’re doing is providing opportunities for the youth,” said Fred Parnow, “To experience outdoor activities, whether it’s ice fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, snow skiing, whatever it may be. Just get outside, experience the outdoors, and hopefully, this will inspire these youngsters to continue those activities in their lifetime.”
Last month, the Get Kids Outdoors program brought approximately 40 youth to Lengby, where they went ice fishing for the whole day as one of their activities. The program used the help of volunteers from UMC, and the Natural Resources Club. Fred explained that they are planning to plan a summer fishing trip as well. “We’ll do this in July, I think; the date is not quite set,” said Parnow, “Again, this is for kids that don’t have the opportunity to do these activities. If there are kids that fish regularly, they can come along, too, but this really focuses on the kids who don’t have the experience.”
For more information and activity information regarding the Get Kids Outdoors program, visit www.getkidsoutdoorsmn.org.
Both Fred and Beth were overwhelmed and thankful for the donation from the Driftbusters Club and explained that it would be a big help for their future events. “We want to give all of the thanks to them for this contribution,” said Parnow, “It will go a long way toward buying fishing lures and other equipment. We hope we become more involved in their safety training that they do with different funds that we provide back to the club to help the youth get their safety certificate and things of that nature.”
Fred went on to explain that both he and Beth are hoping to give back to other programs with donations of their own to help out with local activities catered to the youth.
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