For more than two decades, Bob and Carol Butte have combined their love of sportsfishing with their affection for the youth of Avalon by organizing the annual Church Mouse Invitational Marlin Tournament.
Over the past 22 years the Church Mouse has raised more than $945,000 for the youth of Catalina helping support everything from preschool and classroom supplies to sports, music, arts programs and more.
For more than two decades, Bob and Carol Butte have combined their love of sportsfishing with their affection for the youth of Avalon by organizing the annual Church Mouse Invitational Marlin Tournament.
Over the past 22 years the Church Mouse has raised more than $945,000 for the youth of Catalina helping support everything from preschool and classroom supplies to sports, music, arts programs and more.
“Bob, our qualified staff and I are gearing up for our final year of good fishing, family fun and supporting the community of Catalina,” Carol Butte announced this week.
The Buttes are planning to go out in style with their final Church Mouse event putting the money they have raised for Avalon youth over the $1 million mark. This year’s tournament will be held on Aug. 26 and 27 of the waters of Catalina.
Competitive anglers will be dropping their lines from boats off the Catalina coast, a bump in visitor counts to the Island will help boost Avalon’s economy over that weekend and someone will throw a pie in the harbormaster’s face.
Yes, he’ll be pied and someone will pay dearly for the honor.
So what is the Church Mouse event?
“It’s a three-day party,” said Carol Butte, who with her husband Bob, family and friends have organized the fishing tournament since it began more than 22 years ago. “It started simple,” Butte said. “We didn’t want to compete with other fishing tournaments. We just wanted a simple brown bag lunch event with teams each throwing in a hundred bucks. We did not have a bunch of rules except to go out and catch some fish.”
The legend of the Church Mouse begins with Bob Butte and some fellow angler friends, in a hilltop garage in Mar Vista with a clear view of Catalina Island. There they would gather in the late afternoon and discuss fishing and other topics. One day they found themselves lamenting the rising cost of local marlin fishing tournaments.
Why not start their own? And keep it simple. But who should run it? And what would be its name?
Bob Butte had earned the nickname “Church Mouse” for his habit of leaving the group’s gatherings early. To reward him for that they decided to assign him and his well-organized wife Carol the task when he wasn’t there to object?
From all its humble beginnings, the tournamenthas morphed over the years into a highly-respected fishing contest and appreciated fundraising event.
“That first year we only had 18 boats,” Carol Butte said. They didn’t even have t-shirts. Just a few knick-knacks to remember the day. In fact, it was not until the tournament took on the mantle of being a charity event for the kids of Avalon that it really took off.
It has grown to more than 100 boats and 500 anglers.
According to Carol Butte, the event’s expansion was thanks in part to Bob Blair, the son of the late Dr. Frank Blair, the retired dentist, whimsical saxophonist and Avalon philanthropist who would entertain Avalon with his impromptu performances from his balcony, on the hill atop the city. Frank Blair was known for donation much of his personal wealth life to local, Avalon youth programs.
Bob Blair suggested the marlin tournament proceeds go toward that same cause. Meanwhile, his father offered to match the first $10,000 it raised.
Although the Butte family does not live on Catalina, they had always visited for a few weeks during August. They readily agreed to the idea to the Church Mouse’s new mission. And the rest, of course, is history and a lot of money for the town they have come to love.
They Buttes’ dedication to the Church Mouse tournament became a family affair early in the game.
“My daughters (Maggie and Kim) grew up helping out,” Carol Butte said. “They have been selling raffle tickets since they were five. “They’ve really grown into it and understand the responsibility involved and all of their friends come out and help.”
Over the years, the activities related to the Church Mouse have grown and retain some traditions that have become part of the charm of the event. In particular, is the raffle for the honor of throwing a pie in the harbormaster’s face.
“We are not sure what prompted us to think that throwing a pie at the harbormaster made any sense, but it does raise a lot of money,” Butte said.
On Thursday, Carol Butte said they would not be handing the Church Mouse tournament/benefit over to anyone to continue.
“No. Over the years, we asked if anyone wanted it and nobody jumped,” she said. “This one almost didn’t happen, but our girls said, ‘you have to do it one more year.’ So this is it and it will be a party. But then we are going to go out on top.”
Butte said that her family would still visit Catalina and the many friends they have made over the years on a regular basis.
“We’re not going anywhere, she said. “We will still be around.”
For more information on the Church Mouse Marlin Invitational, see the website: www.churchmouse.org. or visit facebook.com/churchmousemarlininvitational.
