A "must-do" summer event for so many, the annual Jack Beatty Memorial Hospice Cruise and Clambake is scheduled for Friday, July 13, at the historic Youngstown Yacht Club. The 19th annual event will take place rain or shine. Members of the Youngstown Yacht Club, along with other skippers from around Western New York, will once again donate their boats and time to take cruise participants for a afternoon sail up the Niagara River.
During the sail, participants enjoy snacks and drinks provided by boat owners along with live music by The Junkyard Dogs, who play on the river for passengers sailing by. After the sail, the fun continues with a clambake and buffet with all the trimmings, featuring live music by Soul Committee. The evening concludes with a silent auction with gifts donated by local businesses and community members.
The Cruise and Clambake has grown tremendously over the years, and all proceeds benefit Niagara Hospice. With a sellout record of 31 boats and 225 participants in 2017, the event raised $25,000 last summer.
Event Co-Chairman Adam Burns said, "This is a terrific event and we are so thankful to the numerous businesses and everyone in the community who make it such a great success year after year. We are looking forward to another great year. It is such a great time for a very worthy cause."
Due to the record number of attendees in 2017, organizers anticipate the cruise portion of the event will sellout for the third year in a row. Partygoers are encouraged to sign up early so they don't miss the boat.
Landlubbers and people working during the day can still partake in the event. Tickets are available for just the clambake and cookout portion of the event, which begins around 5:30 p.m. Details and online registration can be found on the redesigned website at
www.niagarahospiceregatta.com.
To volunteer, sponsor, place an ad, donate items or obtain more information for the event, contact Burns at
[email protected], Paul Beatty Sr. at 716-860-2854, or Maureen Rizzo at
[email protected]. Rizzo can also be reached at 716-280-0728.
Since 1988, Niagara Hospice has provided end-of-life comfort, care and support to more than 25,000 Niagara County individuals and families faced with terminal illness. For more information, visit
www.NiagaraHospice.org or call Hospice at 716-HOSPICE.
