In addition to the billfish tournament and an annual golf tournament, the Bay Point Billfish Tournament Foundation made money for charity in other ways, including almost $8,500 in raffle-ticket sales.

Because of the tournament's potential to become a regional event, foundation president Bill Spann announced last year that he would focus his efforts on the tournament itself and relinquish control of the charity part of the event to a Foundation Charity Board of Directors.

"There's some newness to us working together," Spann said. "We could possibly raise more than $60,000 in next year's tournament."

The board-of-directors approach means more local organizations will be able to benefit from the fund-raising.

The American Red Cross, the Boys and Girls Club of Bay County and the Children's Home Society helped the foundation coordinate the mid-July tournament, and they will split this year's proceeds.

The $13,896 checks presented to each organization will help programs that could have faced cuts because of the weakening economy.

"We now will be able to go ahead and take care of babies that are in need of adoptions," said Michelle Flaat, executive director of Children's Home Society. "We'll also be able to care for teen parents and be able teach them about not becoming teen parents again."

Right now, the organization is caring for four babies who were in "young-mom situations where (teens) suddenly show up at the emergency room not ready to take care of them," Flaat said.

She said the care of such children quickly becomes expensive.

The Boys and Girls Club will use its money to expand its program for teen-agers.

"This will help us tremendously," said Paul Mosca, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club. "We're sponsoring a training for gang prevention next month, and so we'll get involved with at-risk teens."

He said the Boys and Girls Club tends to "scholarship" many of its youths. The free enrollment in activities ensures that youths who lack resources will be included in programs, Mosca said.

The Red Cross' resources were strained by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"We have a role to play in national emergencies by congressional mandate," said Red Cross Executive Director Bob Pearce. "So a lot of local money was diverted to the national effort" in New York City and Washington, he said.

Pearce said two local Red Cross volunteers who are nationally certified were sent to the relief effort.

The tournament proceeds will help "meet a house fire, a tornado or other local events," Pearce said.

The foundation used to forward tournament proceeds to one charity until last year, when almost $43,000 was raised. The money was split among Anchorage Children's Home, Gulf Coast Community College and Children's Home Society.

"This was a unique situation where all of us were helping each other raise money," Mosca said. "We often collaborate on various efforts.