The owners and crew of several yachts from The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals (TSGYP) Charter Fleet joined in the spirit of giving by participating in the 22nd Annual ShowBoats International Boys & Girls Clubs Rendezvous, held on November 12-14, 2009 at the Rybovich Marina & Yacht Club and other exclusive locations throughout Palm Beach. The highly successful event raised more than a million dollars to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, Florida.
The owners of the 88-foot (26.8-meter) 1999 Custom Broward Essence, a TSGYP Central Charter Agency Listing, not only brought their yacht to the Rendezvous for the very first time, opening it up to fellow guests during the Thursday night Yacht Hop at the Rybovich Marina & Yacht Club, but they also demonstrated exceptional generosity by donating two 3-night/4-day charter vacations that raised almost U.S. $ 50,000 at the Live Auction.
“They really are a lovely couple,” said Linda Von Allmen, Rendezvous Co-Chair and Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County Board Member. “To come into a brand new event and venue and to donate not one but two charter vacations is to say a lot for first-time visitors to this event. It certainly showed their hearts were in the right place, and they realized it was all for the kids.”
The Live Auction was held on Saturday night at the 007 James Bond Theme Gala, a formal ball headlined by singer Donna Summer at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. TSGYP’s charter client Joe Hollingsworth, Owner and CEO of the Hollingsworth Companies, was the successful bidder for one of the two vacations aboard Essence. He plans to join the yacht in the Mediterranean next summer for a relaxing and fun charter experience.
“The willingness of people to donate was just fantastic. Myself and a lot of others just stepped up,” said Hollingsworth. “I’ve been to a lot of fundraising events, and this was quite honestly the best.”
Ultimate Escapes, a TSGYP Strategic Partner, also donated a spectacular vacation at one of its Luxury Destination Clubs for the Raffle Prize.
Among the many other Rendezvous highlights was a Cocktail Competition between the crews of the yachts featured in the Yacht Hop. The appropriately named Cocktails, a 110-foot (30.48M) Hargrave, took third place in the hotly contested competition.
The Yacht Hop also was the elegant setting for the christening of the new 130-foot (40M) Westport Miss Michelle, which recently joined TSGYP Charter Marketing Fleet. Afterward, Sparktacular Fireworks burst above Rybovich Marina & Yacht Club to the delight of more than 500 Rendezvous guests.
“We were pleased to be able to help ‘Stimulate the Economy’ for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County by working with our yacht owners to enhance the event’s success,” said Jennifer M. Saia, President and Charter Specialist for TSGYP and active Board Member for the Clubs. “The Boys & Girls Clubs are an outstanding organization which is doing so much good here in South Florida. The Admirals Club Marine Academy, which is training kids in the skills they will need to become future marine professionals, tradesmen, and yacht crew, is particularly near and dear to our hearts.”
Founded with the mission “to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens,” the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County now has 12 facilities in South Florida, including the Admirals Club Marine Academy, where youths can find practical training for maritime careers such as yacht chef and engineer.
The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals
+1 (954) 764-7742
[email protected]
www.sacksyachts.com