Chances are if you were to venture into the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor inner harbor today and onto the eventual course for Rock the Boat #4 you might have to dodge a couple of miniature icebergs, ice floes or other winter flotsam and jetsam along the route…but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be dreaming of cardboard creations.
One great way to Rock the winter away is get your Boat ready to race the inner harbor this summer…or at the very least get your registration forms filed so that you can be counted in the fleet which is limited this year to the first 75 entries.
“Rock the Boat” cardboard boat races return to the St. Joseph River on July 18th, and registration is now open for the 4th Annual “Rock the Boat” cardboard boat races, hosted by Whirlpool Corporation on that Thursday evening at The Inn at Harbor Shores, located at 800 Whitwam Drive in St. Joseph, with all proceeds benefiting United Way of Southwest Michigan.
The life-size boats are made of cardboard, duct tape and polyurethane, and powered entirely by human paddle-power. The event is open to the public, and the race will begin at 5 pm.
You can register for one of 75 boat slots available by clicking the link below. The registration fee is $250. Here’s the link: http://uwsm.org/rocktheboat
Dave Cichocki is Vice President of Sales at Whirlpool Corporation. He says, “This event has continued to grow every year, and that means more money to the community.” He adds, “We started with five boats in 2016, then 30 in 2017 and last year we had 64. This year, we’re capping it at 75 boats, so boaters need to register early.”
After registering a boat, participants will be provided with their own fundraising portal. The People’s Choice Award will be presented to the team that raises the most money leading up the race. The winner takes home the new People’s Choice Traveling Trophy and will present a $2,500 check to one of United Way’s funded partners of their choice.
To register a boat, sponsor the event or volunteer, click the link found above.
United Way of Southwest Michigan fights for the Health, Education and Financial Stability of every person in every community. They have the influence and relationships to make sustainable change a reality. By harnessing resources from corporate, nonprofit and public partners, they provide immediate assistance to the most vulnerable populations among us, while addressing the root causes of the community’s longstanding challenges and changing lives for the better. To join the fight—through giving, advocacy and volunteering—visit online at www.uwsm.org.
