On Friday, July 19, the banks of Willow Pond in Murray were lined with laughter, learning, and fishing lines as about 50 children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake cast their lines during a special event hosted in partnership with local Walmart stores.
The outing brought together youth from the Sugar House, Lied, and Eccles clubs, who were paired with Walmart employee volunteers for a morning of hands-on instruction, mentorship, and community connection. The event marked the second annual fishing trip of its kind, and organizers say it’s quickly becoming a beloved summer tradition.
“We’re donating some time and some hot dogs to our local community Boys and Girls Club,” explains Kevin Carlile, store manager of the South Jordan Walmart. “And we also have a fishing event where we’re fishing with the kids, teaching them, helping them, and really mentoring them.”
The day’s activities included not only fishing and grilling but also the distribution of nearly 200 fishing poles and tackle kits to Boys & Girls Clubs across the Salt Lake area. Walmart also donated live bait, now available for in-store pickup and delivery across Utah.
Carlile emphasized the broader mission behind the effort: “This is part of our foundation. We always want to be part of the community and give back—and especially when it comes to the kids. It’s definitely one of our major focuses for Walmart.”
The support didn’t stop at gear and time. Walmart also presented a $1,500 grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs, divided evenly among the three participating locations.
“We’re going to break it into $500 for the clubs that participated today,” Carlile shares. “We’re really excited about that.”
“Walmart has been a long-time friend of the clubs,” adds Emma Pickins, marketing and communications coordinator of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake.
As for lunch? Grilled hot dogs to celebrate National Hot Dog Day.
“The kids ate all the hot dogs that we brought, so that’s great,” Carlile laughs, noting they had brought around 90 hot dogs for the hungry young anglers.
For many of the kids, it was their first time fishing—a chance to try something new, make memories, and build relationships with mentors in their community.
Through events like this, Walmart’s local stores continue to highlight the impact of corporate-community partnerships, one fishing pole—and hot dog—at a time.
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