Bradenton Yacht Club’s Great Mates Host Giveaway Benefiting HOPE Family Services

The Great Mates, a 501(c)3 of the Bradenton Yacht Club (BYC) partnered with HOPE Family Services for their Sail Through Summer giveaway. The prizes for this giveaway were a 12-ft. Zuma sailboat and a two-week sailing camp session for a child, aged 8-13 at The Bishop Sailing Center at BYC (either July 15-26th or July 29-August 9th). 

Manatee County residents were able to enter for both giveaway prizes at HOPE Chest Thrift Store from June 10 - July 10, 2019. The HOPE Chest Thrift Store, located in downtown Bradenton, is open to the community and operated by HOPE Family Services to benefit survivors of domestic violence. One drawing entry was provided free per family visiting the store, but in exchange for a donated item from  HOPE’s “Wish List,” (such as non-perishable foods, diapers, toilet paper, formula, etc.) for HOPE’s safe shelter residents, the donor received five drawing entries. 

During the month of the “Sail Through Summer” giveaway, HOPE Chest saw an increase in donations as well as traffic to the store. There were over 100 entries to the “Sail Through Summer” giveaway, which directly will benefit the resources HOPE Family Services provides to survivors of domestic violence in Manatee County. 

On July 11, 2019, board members and staff from HOPE Family Services, members from The Great Mates, and the public joined together at HOPE Chest for the announcement of the 2019 Sail Through Summer winners. The giveaway drawing at HOPE Chest also included light refreshments, bites, and, of course, shopping. City of Bradenton Mayor, Wayne Poston attended the event and drew the two winning tickets. 

Congratulations to both Olivia Zapata, winning the Zuma Sailboat & Landon Sinphay, winning a two-week Sailing Camp at BYC’s  Bishop Sailing Center!

Pictured: Front, Left to Right: Detective Yolanda Cox, Gail Henderson, Mayor Wayne Poston, Mary Ann Gamrot, Beverly Beaucage, Mirinda Hill, HOPE Chest Manager Dawn Simpson. Rear, Left to Right: HOPE Family Services President & CEO Laurel Lynch, Sharon Goslee, Katie Williams.

Thank you to everyone that participated in the 2019 Sail Through Summer giveaway and a special thanks to The Great Mates for selecting HOPE Family Services as their annual charity. We are so excited for the year to come!