BUILDING A BETTER TOMORROW

MarineMax is making a difference for many within the community.

By Charlene Marie Dodge

When was the last time you were thankful for having a roof over your head?

For the many families enrolled in the Habitat for Humanity program, being grateful for a solid place to call home is an understatement. To these families, it means so much more. It’s a renewed chance at life and an opportunity to provide for themselves and their children in a safe and stable environment. And for Karin Jimenez and her 11-year-old son, Josiah, the dream of home ownership has come true through Habitat for Humanity and with the help of MarineMax.

Before entering the program, this working single mother of one encountered many obstacles when it came to housing. From living in a townhome that caused the pair to become ill to sleeping in the living rooms of apartments of different family members during the pandemic and then getting forced to move from a condo since the property went up for sale, Karin faced many challenges. However, due to the program, Karin and Josiah finally have one less major stressor in their lives and can now spend many days together enjoying each other’s company in the comfort of their very own home.

This year Brett McGill, MarineMax CEO and President headed over to the Pinellas County neighborhood development with a team of managers from around the country to assist with the build. The experience was positive, uplifting, and a positive way for the team to be involved within the local community to offer their help and support. As Joshua Lavine, General Manager of MarineMax in the St. Petersburg, Florida, location states, “There’s nothing more impactful to a family or delivers a better experience and memories than a house.” Brett was excited to take part, as well as the rest of the management team who spoke in this impactful video.

For nearly a decade, MarineMax has taken part and partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco to help a family in need in Pinellas County, FL. Typically, over a 13-week span, and in conjunction with the future homeowners themselves, various MarineMax employees dedicate their time to help build a new home for families such as the Jimenezs. From the beginning stages of pouring concrete to the finishing touches with painting, cleaning, and landscaping, MarineMax is proud to be a part of it all. In addition to a monetary donation MarineMax provided for Habitat for Humanity, the home was officially dedicated to the Jimenez family in a heartwarming ceremony in April.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps low-income families across the nation and in 70 other countries improve standards of living with stable housing by enabling those who qualify for a zero-interest mortgage. With the combined efforts of the organization, volunteers, sponsors, and future homeowners, a new home is built from the ground up, allowing stability and the chance for the homeowners to build generational wealth. For more information about this year’s event or to donate or volunteer, please visit Habitat for Humanity’s website.

In addition to assisting the local community with housing, MarineMax takes the helm within the community in many other ways. From improving the health of children, such as supporting the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, to aiding in a specified cause, such as breast cancer awareness through the American Cancer Society, MarineMax enjoys not only having a positive impact on the water but making a difference in other areas of people’s lives as well.

More charitable events are underway. Some to look forward to around the holidays are the Fill the Boat with Love events. Besides working with many local charities nationwide to fill boats with goodies of all sorts, MarineMax also collects unwrapped toys for children of all ages for Toys for Tots at store locations. MarineMax is proud to contribute to bettering the lives of those within the community. Whether it is putting in an effort by volunteering time or donating blood, funds, or supplies to support a cause, our company team members find great value in helping and giving hope to others in need.

Visit our events page to participate in future MarineMax-sponsored events in your area.

By Lisa Harrison

Get ready to meet the Zerphy family, AKA the ultimate boating squad! These guys have been MarineMax customers since 2000, and they know a thing or two about navigating the high seas.

Eric is a Chesapeake Bay boy born and raised, and Sabrina comes from a long line of military folk. These two lovebirds first met at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, where Sabrina became a surface warfare Qualified Line officer, serving aboard the USS Mount Baker (AE-34) and USNS Leroy Grumman

(TAO-195). Meanwhile, Eric was all about nuclear submarines, and he rocked the boat as a line officer aboard the USS Trepang (SSN-674) and USS Cheyenne (SSN-773). They graduated in 1990, and the party was, of course, aboard Eric’s parents’ 1986 42’ Chris-Craft motor yacht, Takara. Talk about a shindig on the water!

These two have been boating together for eons and have owned more boats than you can shake a stick at. They started their boating journey aboard a 1994 Sea Ray 200 Overnighter. Eric bought the boat while they were both stationed in Charleston and as a surprise for when Sabrina returned from her deployment. It was a welcomed surprise. Good job, Eric! After a transfer to Norfolk, VA, and news of a baby on the way, they decided to trade up into something bigger. They went through a series of boats, including a 2003 Sea Ray 380 Sundancer that they kept for almost ten years. Eric and Sabrina raised their daughter aboard this one!

In 2018, they purchased Poseidon, a Galeon 430 HTC, the most unique and innovative boat yet. The hardtop coupe design allows them to enjoy the outside without being in the elements. They traveled down the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) to Tampa, then down to Key West, and back to Kent Island in the winter of 2018/2019. They had so much fun on that trip that they returned to Florida in the winter of 2019/2020 for their daughter’s wedding. The bride and groom even had wedding photos taken on the stern of the Galeon 430 HTC.

Currently, they’re riding high in a 2021 Cruisers Yachts 46 Cantius named Echo Sierra. Like Goldilocks, Eric and Sabrina found their boat. It’s not too big or too small, easy to operate and maintain, economical to run, and can accommodate occasional guests. The 46 Cantius was the perfect fit for their needs, providing everything they required in an easy-to-operate and maintain package.

With eight boats over the last 25+ years, the one constant theme remained the advantage of relying on a dealership network like MarineMax. They’ve traveled from New Jersey down to Key West and everywhere in between. And guess what? They don’t plan on docking anytime soon. And MarineMax will be there to provide excellent support and assistance no matter where the seas take them.

The Zerphy family spills the beans and shares all their epic tales on the podcast show From the Helm Boating Broadcast. Click below to see the episode and prepare to sail with the coolest crew!