The excitement of high-speed sailboats racing for the America’s Cup Trophy was the highlight of the Miles River Yacht Club Foundation’s recent annual awards dinner, but the real winners of the night were the hundreds of Talbot County children who will learn to swim this summer because of the generosity of those in attendance.
“We raised $10,000 on the auction alone. That’s enough to teach almost 220 kids how to swim,” said Foundation Chairman Dr. Sherry Manning.
Tucker Thompson, a Delmarva native and the TV and public host of the America’s Cup to be held next year in Bermuda, was given the Foundation’s Annual Distinguished Service Award. His presentation of the America’s Cup Race in San Francisco and the upcoming Bermuda competition featured an action-packed video of blazing-fast boats that thrilled the 160 dinner guests.
“Tucker was wonderful and he managed to intersperse pictures of our little kids swimming in his America’s Cup video,” Manning said.
The sale of tickets for the April 16 “SAILABRATION” cocktail party and dinner and the generous donations of guests support the Foundation’s “Sink or Swim” program now entering its third successful summer. In the first two years, 775 children were taught how to swim at the Bay Hundred Community Pool in St. Michaels. This year the program is expanding to the George Murphy Pool in Easton and SOS instructors will be teaching an additional 1,000 children life-long skills in the water.
Auctioneer Sandy McAllister kept the crowd entertained while he enticed them to bid on luxury items such as a Miles River Yacht Club burgee signed by America’s Cup skippers, a cruise on the motor yacht Midnight Lace owned by Judge and Mrs. John C. North, cooking lessons by the chef of Scossa, a helicopter ride for four and two nights in Manhattan and a schooner ride to watch America’s Cup trials in May on the Hudson River.
Manning said the corporate sponsors; including Avon Dixon, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Hyatt Hotels and Classic Harbor Lines of New York helped made the evening a success.
It costs just $46 to teach a child to swim. Help the Foundation reach this year’s goal by making a direct, tax-deductible donation to the MRYC Foundation. Contributions can be made securely online at mrycfoundation.org or by sending a check to 606A North Talbot Street, Suite 115, St. Michaels, MD 21663. For more information, call (420) 921-6792.
