DELAINEY BROGGI

State budget constraints mean that some children in group homes may lose summer outdoor activities, so a group of anglers led by a high-school student is stepping in to help.

The Rhode Island BASS Federation Nation and its Junior Bassmasters had already planned a day of fishing for A Wish Come True Saturday in Roger Williams Park.

The federation of fishing clubs works with CAST For Kids and other organizations to provide outdoor opportunities for children who otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to get out on the water. A Wish Come True is a non-profit organization that grants wishes to children who have life-threatening illnesses.

Delainey Broggi, a Coventry High School student, is funding some of next weekend’s event with prize money she won at a fishing tournament that she organized to raise money for CAST For Kids.

Recently, she attended a family picnic where one of her relatives, who works at a group home, told her about the state freezing funds for summer activities. In the group home where Delainey’s relative works, several girls between 5 and 12 years old would have nothing to do.

Delainey’s father, Mike Broggi, recalls the discussion that followed: “On the way home, Delainey says, ‘Dad, if we don’t have enough money for them I’ll use some of my extra money from the winnings to buy those girls poles and stuff. I just can’t let them sit in a group home till school with nothing to do.’”

So, next weekend, the girls will join 40 other children in a day of fishing on boats provided by members of the Federation Nation with help from the Junior Bassmasters. Afterwards, everyone will receive a fishing rod and lifejacket bought with money raised by a high school kid with a huge heart.

Public service is the foundation of the Junior Bassmasters, said Mike Broggi, youth director of the state’s Federation Nation.

His daughter has twice donated her hair — 24 inches of it — to Locks of Love, a program that makes wigs for cancer patients who have lost their own hair.

“I donate my hair,” Delainey said, “because I think of it like this: I love my hair. It must be rough enough to be a child with cancer, never mind losing your hair, too. So if I was in these children’s shoes, it would be so devastating for me. So why not give them something that you can just grow back? My hair will always grow back. And if making a child happy means to give them something as simple as hair that they don’t have, I am all for it. It gives me a great feeling knowing that I have made someone happy that’s going through a rough time.”

Delainey is looking forward to 2008 when she will turn 16 and be old enough to volunteer at the Rhode Island Special Olympics.

“I highly believe that all kids should give back to others and to their community because good things happen to good people,” she wrote in an e-mail. “In the long run it’s great for kids to give back because it teaches good morals to our generation. And hopefully by me doing everything that I have so far this year, I have influenced others to do the same.”

tmeade@projo.com