CHICAGO REGATTA

CHICAGO REGATTA UNITING THE BOATING COMMUNITY TO BENEFIT CHILDREN

BY NANCY SNYDER AND SONJA VEILLEUX

The Chicago Regatta, presented by Wintrust, has become a fixture on our waterfront. The Sept. 11, 2021 regatta again provides the opportunity for all boaters to contribute to the well-being of Chicago-area children while celebrating the boating community that enriches our lives.

While the initial shock of the global pandemic has faded for many of us and we are embracing a return to prepandemic activities, the storm isn’t through; recovery can be more daunting than crisis. The collective generosity of our waterfront community achieved a new record in 2020. Now our challenge is to do even more.

The Chicago Regatta provides a fun opportunity for all boaters to support our beneficiaries while celebrating the boating community that enriches our lives. As in past years, the funds raised at the regatta will go to the CYC Foundation, the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital, and SOS Children’s Villages Illinois. The regatta lasts a weekend, but your impact endures.

The 2021 Chicago Regatta offers sailors, boaters and spectators an opportunity to lend a hand where it is so urgently needed, while also enjoying the best of the competition and camaraderie of our waterfront community. There will be live and virtual events. On-thewater events include buoy racing for one-design fleets, a distance race and a casual race. After these daytime events, there will be DragonForce 65 radio-controlled racing at Belmont station and a lighted boat parade at Monroe Station.

Boats may enter these races by completing the entry form available on Yacht Scoring, and by making a donation to the Chicago Regatta. There is no fee to enter the Chicago Regatta, but in order to be scored, participating boats make a contribution to one of our three charitable partners.

Our celebration for our charities will be hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club by virtual event, to enjoy from your home, and a dinner event at Monroe Station (sized to respect current guidelines and best practices for staying healthy). Our “Sweet Home Chicago” evening event features the Sons of Chicago Band, playing electric blues and soul music for our in-person and virtual events. The regatta will continue the tradition of the virtual silent auction, featuring loads of wonderful items to bid on.

The three recipients of our collective fundraising continue to need our help as we all work to recover from the devastation of recent years.

The Chicago Yacht Club Foundation strives to broaden horizons for youth, disabled, and disadvantaged boaters through nautical training and activities, and supports venues that introduce people at many levels to nautical, educational and on-the-water experiences.

LIGHTED BOAT PARADE ADDS AN ELEGANT FINALE

An all-new sunset boat parade will welcome Chicago Yacht Club members, neighboring clubs and public safety organizations to the 2021 Chicago Regatta event lineup, benefitting the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, SOS Children’s Villages - Illinois, and the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation. Individual Power or sail boats making a donation at the SILVER medal level and corporate sponsors at the PLATINUM medal level will be invited to join an elegant and memorable sunset parade as boats decorated with white lights, flags and banners celebrating the event’s beneficiaries and sponsors pass the club in review. Slips at the Monroe Dock will be allocated first to the invited boats participating in the parade and any remaining slips will be allocated to boats on the basis of total donations. Please consider joining Ararat, owned by CYC Commodore Nick Berberian; Mirage, owned by Sonny Lisowski; Son’s Too VII, owned by Chuck Anderson; Lakehouse owned by Ed Falkenhayn and Cigany, owned by Michael Kovacs. Please contact Kurt Lentsch on the Chicago Regatta Boat Parade subcommittee for registration and go to www.chicagoregatta.com/ donate to make your silver level donation and secure your spot! Watch for more details about registering for the Chicago Regatta, the boat parade and fundraising coming soon! And keep up-to-date about everything related to this philanthropic event at www.chicagoregatta.com.

The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital staff continue to serve some of the most vulnerable patients facing trauma, cancer, and chronic illnesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The need to provide exceptional clinical care and substantial emotional support has not receded as the world begins to reopen.

The unique model of foster care at SOS Children’s Villages Illinois provides safe, stable, loving homes, keeping brothers and sisters together in clusters of private, single-family homes sharing recreational and administrative facilities. The pandemic upended this model and challenged the stability that all children need to thrive.

Now is no time to let up. The collective generosity of the boating and waterfront community is needed to offer safety and comfort to the Chicago area’s most vulnerable children.

Any contribution can make a difference; please consider becoming a Medal-level donor to maximize your impact.

Please visit www.ChicagoRegatta.com for more information, registration, and donation opportunities.

2021 EVENT BOOSTS FUNDRAISING FUN AND COMPETITION WITH NEW LEADERBOARD FUNCTION

The Chicago Regatta has an additional exciting competition: The newly added Leaderboard system allows donations from crew, family, friends and business associates to roll up under each race boat or parade boat to win great prizes.

Each boat will be provided with a unique link that can be shared with others to make online donations which will accumulate under your boat’s name. The Leaderboard will continually update in real time throughout the club and online, showing the boats that have gathered the most donations.

Please know that the Leaderboard competition is independent from the medal donor and sponsorship programs that have their own rewards, so donations through those programs do not count as part of the Leaderboard totals.

This is a great way to take our donations for kids to the next level by bringing crew, family, friends and associates into the mix. Please give generously, spread the word, and encourage everyone to get involved in this wonderful charity competition.