The Keyport Yacht Club Raises $14,500 to Help Bayshore Residents In Need

The Keyport Yacht Club raised $14,500 during its annual Bill Volk Regatta and Charity Cup held June 11-12 in Keyport, NJ. The money raised during the “Sailing for the Bayshore” event benefits the RAINE (Reaching All In Need Everyday) Foundation, a Hazlet, NJ, non-profit that helps families in need, including many still recovering from Superstorm Sandy.

The Keyport Yacht Club holds the Bill Volk Regatta and Charity Cup, now in its 16th year, every June as a fundraising event that combines competitive sailboat racing with raising money for a cause. Partnering with the RAINE Foundation for the fourth year, the club has raised more than $70,000 since the “Sailing for the Bayshore” campaign was first held in 2013 to help victims of Superstorm Sandy.

“Giving back to our community is an important part of our club. We are extremely proud of our partnership with the RAINE Foundation knowing that the money we raise through the Bill Volk Regatta and Charity Cup goes to directly helping our neighbors in need,” said Keyport Yacht Club Commodore, Lee DiRubbo.

Matt and Patti Dickens, founders of the RAINE Foundation, spoke at the race awards ceremony on Sunday, June 11. They shared heartwarming stories about their impact in the community with the support they receive from the Keyport Yacht Club each year. Providing local school children with back to school supplies and clothes, delivering toys during the holidays, and assisting families facing an unexpected crisis, are just some of the ways RAINE has been able to make a difference for people in the bayshore area.

Wind conditions are always a factor in sailboat racing and this year was no exception. Heavy winds and threatening storms shortened the series to only one race. Despite the weather, the weekend was still a great success. A Saturday evening dinner reception featured a silent auction, raffle, 50-50 drawing, and tricky tray with over 100 donated prizes. Dinner guests bid against each other to win original artwork, vacation packages, sports memorabilia, theater tickets, gift certificates to local shops and restaurants, and more. Support also came from individual donations, program book advertising, t-shirt sales, and event sponsorship. CTC Compression Therapy Concept, Saker ShopRites, Inc., and the skipper and crew of the sailing vessel, After You, were event sponsors.

“So many people contribute to the success of our Bill Volk Regatta and Charity Cup each year,” said Carole Olufsen, the Keyport Yacht Club charity committee chairperson. “We are very proud and thankful for all of the support we receive from our KYC members and RAINE volunteers who help organize the event, the sailors and crew who come to race and help fundraise, and local friends and businesses that support the event each year. Together we are making a big difference,” Olufsen said.

To learn more about the RAINE Foundation or to donate directly to RAINE, a 501(c) (3) organization, visit www.rainefoundation.com.

For more information about the Keyport Yacht Club, visit keyportyachtclub.com.