Page 16 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2017

COASTNOTES
story by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of United Way of South Mississippi
United Way of South Mississippi
228.896.2213 www.unitedwaysm.org
SET FOR APRIL 29
The Gulf Coast Dragon Boat Festival is back
on April 29, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., — after a successful inaugural year in 2016 — at the Dock Bar & Grill in Gulfport. A fund raising event for the United Way of South Mississippi, the festival will feature teams competing for bragging rights. The 25 teams
will represent well-known organizations in the community and groups of family and friends.
The event’s first year on the Coast raised nearly $37,000 and organizers are hoping to raise more this year and continue to grow the festival. Funds raised will help United Way achieve its goal of creating
a long-lasting impact in South Mississippi by supporting children and families through education, health and income services.
“We were looking for a very different event that would bring the community together to enjoy one of the best attributes of the Coast: water. The Dragon Boat Festival was a perfect fit, and we feel blessed that our community so quickly agreed,” said Cynthia Walker, CEO of United Way of South Mississippi. “We’ve gotten incredible support from individuals and organizations, including this year’s sponsors Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Gulfport, Garden Park Medical Center, Gulf Coast Community Federal Credit Union, Hancock Bank, IP Casino Resort Spa and Yates Construction. We certainly couldn’t put this on without them. But it also takes all of those filling the boats and the other groups purchasing seats in those boats to make it a successful event.”
United Way is proud to distribute funds to nine agencies in the community, as well as to support programs such as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which sends more than 2,200 free books to children in South Mississippi every month, and to help working South Mississippians through programs such as the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance preparation program.
“There’s nothing more ‘South Mississippi’ than combining boating with a little friendly competition that supports a great cause,” Walker added. “We can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Gulf Coast Dragon Boat Festival. We think it will become a staple for fundraisers in South Mississippi.”
16 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • April 2017 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net