Andrew Edwards
Fundraising expectations are not as high as those for the Toshiba
Senior Classic, but organizers of the inaugural First Team Real
Estate Invitational Regatta hope to hoist a hefty sum for Hoag
Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.
"We're hoping to raise approximately $200,000," Hoag Hospital
Foundation executive director Ron Guziak said. "It is a first-time
event and it has the potential to be much greater." Guziak said the
current plan is to hold the event every two years.
This year, the Toshiba Senior Classic again broke the
million-dollar barrier, raking in $1,071,000 for the hospital, Guziak
said. Another recent fundraiser, the Christmas Carol Ball, netted
close to $500,000.
Organizers want to attract the largest and swiftest sailboats to
the regatta, Guziak said. To do that, they plan to schedule future
races to coincide with the biennial Transpacific Yacht Race. In that
event, boaters launch in Long Beach and speed their way to Honolulu.
The regatta is scheduled to begin Friday and conclude Sunday.
Instead of a distance race, competitors are expected to tack around a
buoy course.
At least two more regattas can be expected, First Team Real Estate
executive Debbie Lewandowski said. Her company made a six-year
agreement to sponsor the race.
Lewandowski said she could not confirm how much First Team Real
Estate spent to become a sponsor. Her company has posted several ads
in Orange County bus shelters, and Lewandowski said her firm has
actively promoted the race with TV and radio spots.
"We've spent a fortune advertising this event," she said.
Money raised by the regatta is set to be dedicated to the Hoag
Heart and Vascular Institute, Guziak said. The hospital wants to use
the funding to pay for clinical research and to construct a new
building for the institute.
The idea behind the regatta was conceived more than two years ago,
Guziak and event co-chair Jay Swigart said. Organizers thought an
event built around sailing would ensure the fundraiser would be
unique to Newport.
"We have to have something no one else has," Guziak said.
The challenge, Swigart said, was to figure out a way to raise
money from a race, and organizers decided to give companies and
individuals the chance to sponsor racing boats.
As an incentive, sponsors can have the best seats for the race by
being able to watch the action from aboard competing yachts.
"The concept we came up with was to have corporate sponsors, and
have them, in effect, buy the boat for the weekend," Swigart said.
