3 Reasons To Support Mike Schmidt’s Winner’s Circle Charities Fishing Tournament
This week will kick off the 18th Annual Mike Schmidt’s Winner’s Circle Charities Fishing Tournament in Old Bahama Bay. Donating 100% of profits to charity and joined in 2012 by Steve Moynihan of HMY Yachts and Rob Thomson of Waterfront Properties, Baseball Hall-of-Famer Mike Schmidt and his co-hosts have created a wildly popular tournament among South Florida anglers, expecting more than 400 guests and participants from all over Palm Beach County this year. To date, Winner’s Circle Charities has distributed more than $2 million in funds to various charities including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, American Cancer Society, Cleveland Clinic, Marine Institute Education Foundation, Riviera Beach Maritime Academy, Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation, and Waterfront Way Foundation.
On the water, last year’s Grand Champion was “Plum Krazy,” a 52’ Viking ran by Gary and Brad Belcher. They totaled 168 pounds of fish to include all three species and an impressive 108-pound tuna.
This year, HMY Yacht Sales Professional Brian Weaver is running 2007 64’ Viking “Stihl Leader” for the tournament. “I have been fishing the Winner’s Circle Charity Fishing Tournament since it started almost 20 years ago, and as a committee member for 18 years it’s been exciting to help raise almost three million dollars for our charities.” Weaver recalls, “There’s a large HMY customer base that fishes this event every year, and it’s awesome to be a part of that comradery. Bob Noble [owner of the Stihl Leader] is a generous sponsor, has fished every year as well, and is a two-time Grand Champion, so we’re ready for a great weekend of fishing and giving back to the community.”
While the fishing competition draws a crowd, the real reasons to participate in the Mike Schmidt’s Winner's Circle Charities Fishing Tournament are the lives you’ll impact by giving back to 2018’s charity partners. This year, 100% of proceeds benefit the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation, the Marine Industry Education Foundation, and the Waterfront Way Foundation.
Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and most cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. The RDK Melanoma Foundation’s vision is to educate children throughout the country to give them the skills necessary to make healthy sun safety choices throughout their lives.
“We accomplish this through our K-12 Sun Smart America curriculum and by getting out into communities to create awareness of skin cancer, especially melanoma.” Stacy Ostrau, Executive Director of RDK Melanoma Foundation, explains, “Our newest initiative, the sunscreen dispenser Project, involves making sunscreen dispensers accessible in order to protect residents and visitors from sun exposure.”
To donate or find out more about how to practice sun safety, go here: http://melanomafoundation.com/contact-us/
Marine Industry Education Foundation
MIEF brings dynamic programs and opportunities for youth in the marine industry. They do this by supporting the Riviera Beach Maritime Academy, Sea Scouts, the Haiti Ocean Project, and the Community Boating Initiative.
The Riviera Beach Maritime Academy is a public charter school that focused on preparing youth that have a passion for boating for careers in the marine industry. Students at the school are trained in Marine Mechanics, Boat Building, Yacht Design, Navigation, and Environmental Science, and many alumni have been accepted into come of the most prestigious universities.
Sea Scouts is a program of the Boy Scouts of America that teaches the same traditional values using the water and boating. The program focused on leadership, mentoring, and teamwork, and takes part in many community service programs throughout the year.
The Haiti Ocean Project is a collaborative effort between several organizations to bring Haitian and American students together to develop a whale watching location west of Port Au Prince near Grand Goave. The ultimate goal is to create a tourist sanctuary to help stimulate the economy.
The Community Boating Initiative is MIEF’s program for helping youth in their community experience the exciting and rewarding world of boating. Many of these young people would never have access to boating and the excitement it brings without the programs MIEF operates.
For more information about MIEF, go here: http://winnerscirclecharities.org/partners/marine-industry-education-foundation/
The Waterfront Way Foundation develops events on behalf of under-resourced individuals and organizations in the northern Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast communities, and is developing an educational grant program for local students.
Founder Rob Thomson commented, “I am very concerned about the monumental challenges under resourced kids in our local area face. I’ll be working closely with my still-developing board to pinpoint specific areas of need, and individuals who are already making a difference in those communities.” He continued, “Good partnerships within the community are the key to sustainable success.”
For more information on Waterfront Way Foundation, contact Greg DuBose at 561-746-6077 or email, [email protected].
A Legacy Of Making A Difference in Many Lives
With your support, Mike Schmidt’s Winner's Circle Charities plans to do even more. To learn more about how you can help support this worthy cause, please see contact information below, or contact a committee member.
Winner’s Circle Charities
825 Parkway Street Suite 8
Jupiter, Florida 33477
[email protected] – WinnersCircleCharities.org
Phone 561-596-5101
Hosts
Mike Schmidt
Steve Moynihan
Rob Thomson
Committee Members
Steve Barcsansky
George Bengston
Andy Flack
Scott Henley
Harold Kay
Mike Middleton
Mike Samuels
Deborah Schwarzberg
Mike Viola
Brian Weaver
Event Designers
Lisa Dellapina
Vicki Derrico
