Successful fundraising for an outfit as important to its local community as Samuel’s House is to Key West, Fla., begins with securing foundational sponsors. And by that I mean backers who set the stage with hefty early donations to the cause. The 13th annual Speed On The Water Key West Bash at the Pickle’s Pub Sandbar three nights from now is no exception.
Wozencraft Insurance has backed the Speed On The Water Key West Bash benefitting Samuel’s House for 10 years. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
But Good Boy Vodka, DWR, offshore racer Rob Lockyer, Platinum Powerboats and Wozencraft Insurance and Finance made inking those commitments easy. Each led off the GoFundMe campaign for Samuel’s House with a $1,000 donation. An instant $4,000 dropped into the account minutes after it went live.
Not to get all Old Testament on you, but generosity begets generosity. High-performance powerboating community from Scott Rosenbach in Chicago to Kelly O’Hara in Upstate New York to a slew of Fort Myers Offshore member fed thousands of dollars into the account, which currently stands at $15,950.
Go ahead. For just 50 bucks you can round it off to an even $16,000.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE SPEED ON THE WATER GO FUND ME CAMPAIGN FOR SAMUEL’S HOUSE
And who knows how much more—note the not-so-subtle hint—they might kick in before the Thursday evening celebration ends? Lockyer and Pratt stepped up last year. With Lockyer throttling their first 42-foot Class 2 catamaran, Platinum Powerboats founders Scott Grants and Edwin Scheer didn’t hesitate to join them this time around.
DWR owner Justin Wagner, who has backed the Key West Bash in multiple ways during years, was an easy mark as usual. He knows good causes when he sees them and can’t help himself from supporting them.
DWR is bringing a 39-foot pleasure cat to the street. Image by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Helmkamp Photos.
And what can you say about Devin Wozencraft (at least in polite company)? Not only has the guy sponsored the food for the party since it moved to Pickle’s Pub Sandbar on Greene Street 10 years ago, he donated $1,000 to the GoFundMe campaign without blinking.
Plus, they’re bringing party decorations to Greene Street—the Good Boy Vodka Platinum raceboat, a DWR 39 pleasure catamaran and the Super Stock-class Wozencraft catamaran.
On a related note, though Larry Bleil of Race World Offshore is always good for a healthy contribution to Samuel’s House on party night, he’s already done his bit. Bleil built the annual Speed On The Water Key West Bash into his contract with the city. When the bill comes due for the city services required such as closing Greene Street, he pays it.
This 42-foot Platinum raceboat will help decorate Greene Street come Thursday night. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
With just shy of $16,000 currently raised by the GoFundMe campaign with the goal of reaching $100,00, there is work to be done. And it will be.
But the foundational sponsors, generous souls to a man, got it rolling.
Want do donate and then party like a rock star? Now’s your chance.