Johnny Morris ups the ante in Dorian fundraiser

Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris announced he’s personally donating at least $1 million to support Convoy of Hope’s response efforts to areas of the Bahamas hit by Hurricane Dorian.

The donation is part of Bass Pro’s Anglers for the Bahamas: Fishin’ for a Mission campaign that was announced last week with a minimum contribution from the Springfield-based outdoor retailer of $1 million. With initial support from vendors and partners, $2 million had been pledged toward the cause.

With Morris’ donation, officials expect the fundraising total to cross the $4 million mark. Morris will match in-store customer donations by 25 cents on the dollar and donate $100 for every Johnny Morris Signature Series rod or reel purchase, according to a news release.

“The wonderful people of the Bahamas need our help, and by uniting together as anglers united for good, we can collectively make a huge positive difference,” Morris said in the release. “We are sincerely grateful to all those who have donated to this effort and want to do all we can to encourage others to join us in supporting Convoy of Hope as they assist the Bahamas during this critical time.”

During the first four days of the Anglers for the Bahamas campaign, more than 81,000 anglers made donations.

Convoy of Hope, according to a Sept. 12 blog post, has delivered 23 planeloads of supplies and distributed over 90,000 meals and other products to individuals and families in the Bahamas. There, Hurricane Dorian left more than 50 people dead and tens of thousands homeless, according to media reports.