News & Events

The Keyport Yacht Club Annual Bill Volk Regatta & The RAINE Foundation

 

 2024 Annual Bill Volk Memorial Regatta  June 8 & 9, 2024

The Keyport Yacht Club hosted its first Annual Bill Volk Memorial Regatta in 1994 to honor longtime club member, William Volk, Sr., who served as a trustee and chairman of the race committee and significantly upgraded the club’s race program. On June 8, 2001, the club held its first Regatta to benefit a charity to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 

Set up your Team page using this KYC Flipcause Link to start fundraising with family & friends.

Registration for the 2023 Bill Volk Memorial Regatta on June 8 & 9 2024 is coming soon!

 

The Keyport Yacht Club and the RAINE Foundation

“Sailing for the Bayshore” to help our neighbors in need

 

Eight months after Superstorm Sandy hit the Jersey shore in October 2012, the Keyport Yacht Club and the RAINE Foundation launched the first “Sailing for the Bayshore” campaign to help people in the community recover from the storm.  

 

“We were fortunate to have so many members volunteer their time and skills to help us rebuild and we wanted to do the same for our neighbors who needed the most help,” said Ann Quinn, Keyport Yacht Club commodore from 2012-2014. 

 

The first “Sailing for the Bayshore” campaign was held in June 2013 and raised more than $16,000 for the RAINE Foundation. The weekend-long event, held in conjunction with the Bill Volk Regatta, featured a beautiful “Light the Bay” ceremony on the water and along the shore as a sign of resilience and hope for the community. Donations and volunteer efforts from members, friends, racers and local businesses helped make the event a big success. Since 2013, the annual regatta has supported the work the RAINE Foundation does throughout the Raritan Bay’s Southern Shore area to help families in need.

 

In a recent interview, RAINE President Anthony Petruzzi explained that the Foundation works with school counselors and administrators to find and assist kids in crisis and families in need. Those efforts can be as simple as helping a family struggling with a recent job loss to pay bills, funding mental health counseling for a teen dealing with difficult issues, or helping entire families cope with a major illness or tragedy. In 2016, RAINE helped more than 400 families celebrate Christmas by providing toys and gifts tailored to the needs of each family. And, their Easter basket and holiday meals programs are helping put smiles on the faces of many of the less fortunate in our area.

 

The “Sailing for the Bayshore” campaign has raised $189,000 since the first regatta in 2013 thanks to the generous support of racers, donors, and sponsors. We look forward to continuing to support this great organization and helping our neighbors in need.

 

About The RAINE Foundation

RAINE (Reaching All In Need Everyday) is a 501(c) (3) organization established in 2001 to assist children and families who are in crisis. Since its beginnings, RAINE has positively impacted our communities by providing food, clothing, and assistance during the holidays, along with other various necessities for families in crisis throughout the year. The RAINE team consists of compassionate, caring volunteers striving to make a difference in the lives of others.

 

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, RAINE's reach and resources were extended to include the entire New Jersey shore area. In the days and weeks following Superstorm Sandy, RAINE was able to organize its "army of volunteers" to provide food, clothing, and other assistance to those affected, including serving over 20,000 meals per day to victims and first responders. 

 

The money raised through the Bill Volk Regatta and the “Sailing for the Bayshore” campaign helps the RAINE Foundation extend its reach to more people each year. In addition to managing an average of 10 cases a week, the all-volunteer RAINE Foundation helps children and other families throughout the year. 

 

Keyport Yacht Club has raised over $189,000 for charity.