Fundraising Gala for Rio Games 2016

On Wednesday, May 4, the Sailing Foundation of New York (SFNY) will hold its biennial Golden Spinnaker Gala at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan, benefiting the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Team athletes representing the United States at the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

All proceeds from this fundraising gala will go directly to the athletes’ Olympic and Paralympic campaigns, including travel, shipping and accommodations expenses, as they embark on the final stretch of their Olympic and Paralympic campaigns in order to reach their medal goals. This gala will be the first event where the entire, newly named Olympic Sailing Team will be together before the Games. The entire Paralympic Sailing Team will be named on May 28, but the athletes who have qualified for the team prior to May will also attend the gala.

Two-time U.S. Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and America’s Cup skipper Ken Read (Newport, R.I.) will serve as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. Read is the president of North Sails and a color commentator for NBC Sports during the 2013 America’s Cup and the current America’s Cup World Series.

“This Olympic team is the future of sailing in the United States and it is up to all of us to help them renew America’s prominence on the world stage at the Olympic level,” said Read.

While other countries’ sailing teams are funded by their respective governments and lotteries, the U.S. team relies on generous philanthropists and corporate sponsors to stay competitive.

“The Sailing Foundation of New York has always placed a high priority on supporting the athletes of the US Olympic Sailing Program,” said Dean Brenner, the SFNY president. “This is the Olympic year, so America’s best are in their final preparations for the Games this summer. The Sailing Foundation of New York is committed to giving them as much support as we can gather.”

The Golden Spinnaker Gala includes cocktails, dinner and a live auction led by renowned Christie’s auctioneer Lydia Fenet. Established in 2003, the Gala is held every other year at the New York Yacht Club in New York City and Newport, R.I.

For more information or to purchase a ticket: ussailing.org/goldenspinnakergala2016

To make a donation, email Dean Brenner at Sfny2014@gmail.com

Event:
2016 Golden Spinnaker Gala

Benefiting:
U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Team athletes

Date:
Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Location:
New York Yacht Club
37 West 44th Street, New York, N.Y.

Time:
6 p.m. Cocktails; 7:30 p.m. Dinner; Live Auction

Attire:
Smart Cocktail Casual

Board of Directors:
Dean Brenner (President, Wallingford, Conn.), Dan Cooney (Marion, Mass.), George Hinman (Newport, R.I.), George Isdale (founder, emeritus, Narragansett, R.I.), Dorothy Mosko (Greenwich, Conn.), Tom Stark (Riverside, Conn.) and Paul Zabetakis (Stuart, Fla.)

Sponsors:
US Sailing Team Sperry, Sunbrella, Chubb Personal Insurance, Gowrie Group, Sunsail, The Hinckley Company, Arader Galleries, The Heritage Flag Company, Soundview Millworks, Team One Newport, Serendipity Magazine

About the Sailing Foundation of New York
Founded in 2003 by New York Yacht Club Commodore George Isdale, Jr., the Sailing Foundation of New York supports individuals who demonstrate the commitment and the potential to represent the United States at the highest possible levels in the sport of sailing, and the organizations and programs that are committed to growing the sport. One hundred percent of all donations go directly to the athletes. During the last decade, the Foundation has raised more than $4 million for sailing athletes.

About the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team
The U.S. Olympic Sailing Team and U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team are managed by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. The top boats in each of the 10 Olympic and three Paralympic classes will be named to the US Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. US Sailing helps these elite athletes with financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing and communications support.

Source:
Kriskey + Lane Communications
Marni Lane / marni@kriskeylane.com
Susan Kriskey / susan@kriskeylane.com