For East Boston nonprofit organizations like Piers Park Sailing Center, East Boston YMCA, the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH) and Harborkeepers, the annual Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Shamrock Splash fundraiser helps these organization bring fun activities to Eastie beaches and harbor during the summer months.
Several Eastie residents and members of local non-profit organizations like Piers Park Sailing Center (PPSC) took part the ninth annual Harpoon Shamrock Splash to benefit Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Better Beaches Program on Sunday, March 10, at the BCYF Curley Community Center at M Street Beach in South Boston. Save the Harbor/Save the Bay raised over $50,000 to support free beach events and programs on the region’s public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket.
When participants woke up Sunday morning it was snowing sideways. Luckily it subdued a little before the splash, but there was still freezing rain and the beach was covered with snow, which made it a little uncomfortable for those taking the annual plunge. The water was a balmy 38 °F at Carson Beach on Sunday.
“We love doing the Shamrock Splash,” said Piers Park Sailing Center’s Executive Director Alex DeFronzo. “This year we had a team of 12 from PPSC. The bravest of the bunch was our board vice chair Mary Cole who dyed her hair green and led our charge into the ocean. She said she would dye her hair if she raised more than $1,000 and she beat that handily bringing in a total of $1,530 for the Better Beaches Program at Save the Harbor / Save the Bay.”
In total the PPSC team, the Piers Park Sub Zero Aqua Warriors, was the third top fundraiser overall and raised $4,950 from over 60 generous donors.
“Save the Harbor is one of our most important program partners every summer,” said DeFronzo. “They send a team of 5-6 staff to Piers Park to provide marine science education to our Harbor Explorers and sailing students. This program also supports a bunch of other great organizations like the Friends of the Belle Isle Marsh, Harborkeepers, NOAH, and the East Boston YMCA.”
Last year the four Eastie nonprofits received $18,180 each to host activities like free kayaking, sunset family fitness, family fun days, and the first annual East Boston marine science and maritime festival.
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is the region’s leading voice for clean water and continued public investment in Boston Harbor, the region’s public beaches, and the Boston Harbor Islands, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay and the marine environment and share them with the public for everyone to enjoy.