Last week at the Boaters Battling Breast Cancer Bash, members of Sarasota Yacht Club's SYC Cares group raised more than $85,000 to benefit the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation and the women’s breast cancer services at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. The fundraiser included live and silent auctions as well as pink-clad SYC-SMH doctors and other male SYC members selling 50-50 tickets to party-goers. Emcee Jeff Birnbach and auctioneer Greg Goebel kept the fundraising momentum going throughout the evening. Event chair, Maddie Kujawski, along with Stephania Feltz, SYC Member Relations Director and others, were proud to announce that this year’s event raised nearly three times as much as last year. 

“The Healthcare Foundation is honored to have been chosen by the Sarasota Yacht club as a charitable partner,” says Mason Ayres Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation President. “We are grateful for the generosity of this SYC community and their continued support of the Healthcare Foundation in raising critical funds for women’s breast cancer services at SMH.”

Funds raised help cover approximately 1,000-breast health visits for low-income or uninsured residents who need breast health screenings and/or diagnostic tests. Tests include mammograms, breast ultrasounds and breast biopsies for those who do not qualify for other assistance. Ongoing grants from Sarasota Memorial Health Care Foundation also support a Clinical Oncologist Coordinator, Cancer Research Coordinator and Gynecological Tissue Banking Collection.

Photo provided by SYC Cares. From left to right: Sally Schule, Director of Community Engagement at the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation; Hugh McIlrevey, Commodore of SYC; Karen Harmon, GM/COO of SYC; Madelyn Kujawski, Event Chair; Stephania Feltz, Member Relations Director of SYC.