Fundraising during the age of the coronavirus is difficult to say the least.
It’s even tougher when the outreach involves sailboat racing, banned in Maryland since mid-March and still facing an uncertain future.
Nonetheless, three major Annapolis charity regattas — Hospice Cup, Leukemia Cup and the Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating Cup — are forging ahead with dates in August and September despite the devastating impact on the local economy caused by the pandemic.
“As you can imagine, the sponsorship dollars have completely dried up as companies are now just trying to stay open and pay their employees,” said Cedric Lewis, a longtime member of the Hospice Cup Board of Directors.
Hospice Cup XXXIX is scheduled for Sept. 19, and organizers are still planning for on-water racing. However, the shore party — held in recent years at Bert Jabin Yacht Yard — has been canceled as a cost-saving measure.
More than 400 people attended last year’s post-race party and the Hospice Cup board believes such large-scale social gatherings will still be banned in Maryland come mid-September. With donations likely to be less than years past, president Brian Jones-Lantzy said the board could not justify the expense of holding the party.
Hospice Cup organizers also eliminated the spectator boat used to entertain corporate sponsors and high-dollar donors. Christine Lasser, the full-time executive director, is working without pay — a gesture that speaks to her “character and commitment to the Hospice Cup,” Lewis said.
Hospice Cup XXXIX would have kicked off its fundraising efforts with the annual Artist Selection reception at the Circle Gallery. That event was canceled and replaced with an online display and voting.
“Our biggest challenge right now as a fundraising organization is that the virus has directly affected our ability to get in front of donors,” Jones-Lantzy said. “We normally capitalize on other hospice events conducted around the area. Many of those have been canceled. It becomes a domino effect.”
Jones-Lantzy said several area banks, law firms, and yacht yards remain committed to sponsoring the 39th annual Hospice Cup as the mission remains unchanged.
Last year, Hospice Cup raised approximately $100,000 to support the nationwide organization that provides specialized care for terminally ill patients.
Gov. Larry Hogan’s ban on competitive sailboat racing postponed the 28th annual Annapolis Leukemia Cup. Originally scheduled May 30, the regatta is reset for Sept. 5, during Labor Day weekend.
Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating remains committed to its date for the 15th annual CRAB Cup, slated for Aug.15. That means all three Annapolis-area charity regattas will be held in the span of just over a month.
Hospice Cup, Leukemia Cup, and CRAB Cup all rely on individual sailors soliciting donations from friends and families. Paul Bollinger, executive director for Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating, recognizes these so-called “skipper’s challenge” fundraising efforts “might face some challenges.”
Patrick Shannon, co-chairman of Annapolis Leukemia Cup, said the organizing committee reached out to Bollinger and Jones-Lantzy to discuss strategies to minimize the potential “fundraising fatigue” within the local sailboat racing community.
Two years ago, Annapolis established the Triple Crown of Sailing Trophy to recognize the top individual fundraiser for the season.John Heintz was the inaugural recipient of the ornate trophy that is sponsored by Weems & Plath and displayed at Market House. It is awarded to the skipper that finished highest on the race course and raised the most money for the three charity regattas.
Dan Flagler, 2019 winner of the Triple Crown of Sailing Trophy, acknowledged the challenge of seeking donations for three regattas in the span of a month.
“Yes, this will be an odd season for sailing and fundraising. I have registered for the Leukemia Cup but have not yet started my fundraising efforts. Same goes for CRAB Cup and Hospice Cup,” Flagler said. “I expect fundraising to be difficult as folks are dealing with many health and financial challenges.”
Hogan lifted the “stay-at-home” order effective Friday and announced sailboat racing was among the activities that could resume. Officials with the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association, Annapolis Yacht Club and Eastport Yacht Club are formulating plans for resuming racing in a safe and responsible manner.
“As it stands now, we will be able to hold an on-water race,” Bollinger said. “Obviously, the big question is what type of gatherings will be allowed come August.”
Last year, almost 500 supporters attended the CRAB Cup awards reception at Eastport Yacht Club. Bollinger said Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating has already lined up four bands for the night’s entertainment.
Bollinger said the 2019 edition drew 75 participants and raised $110,000 for the non-profit that uses specially designed adaptive sailboats to provide on-water opportunities for persons with disabilities, recovering warriors and children from at-risk communities.
Last year’s Annapolis Leukemia Cup Regatta drew nearly 100 boats and raised a total of $225,000 for the Maryland Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Most of those funds go toward research, patient programs and advocacy to cure blood cancers.
Rescheduling the event was not easy because there are few openings on the local racing calendar. Shannon said Sept. 5 became an option because the Annapolis Labor Day Regatta has eliminated one-design racing this year.
That came after the Annapolis stop of the Helly Hansen National Offshore One-Design series was postponed from mid-May to the weekend of Aug. 28-30. Organizers realized it would be repetitive to conduct another one-design regatta the following weekend.
Shannon and co-chairman Chris Munson were grateful AYC and EYC agreed to dedicate the Saturday of Annapolis Labor Day Regatta to the Leukemia Cup.
“Sailors know we can’t change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust our sails. So that is what we plan to do because our destination is curing cancer and we will not let COVID-19 stop us,” Munson said.
Annapolis has the distinction of holding the country’s first Leukemia Cup Regatta with sailing ambassador Gary Jobson playing a key role in its founding in 1993.
Shannon and Munson have seized upon the rallying cry “cancer has not been canceled,” in working hard to reschedule this year’s regatta. “Our mission focus on patient support and funding cures remains as vital as ever,” Shannon said.
There will be a fundraising kickoff on June 19. SunTrust Bank stayed aboard as lead sponsor, while other supporting sponsors have pledged to do whatever they can.
“We are very sensitive to the circumstances in which our supporters and business sponsors find themselves. We understand many may not have the ability to provide a donation,” Munson said.
Organizers of CRAB Cup, Hospice Cup, and Leukemia Cup are all cognizant the regattas could be altered. It is possible race committee officials will limit crew sizes or require sailors not to cluster on the windward rail as usual. Stipulations could also be put in place for gatherings at launch sites and marina docks.
“Whatever regulations are in effect at the time will be adhered to by the AYC and EYC race committees, all participants and all organizers,” Munson said.
