Freedom Boat Club of Lake St. Clair, which launched its first location this year on Lake St. Clair in Harrison Township, Michigan / Boat Town USA at Hideaway Harbor Marina, is partnering up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Detroit as part of a national campaign to support and benefit Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
Freedom Boat Club, the nation’s oldest and largest boat club with over 100 locations, 1000 boats in its fleet, and 12,000+ members in 21 states as well as Vancouver, has just announced a major national partnership to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
For the first time in the franchisor’s 26-year history, Freedom Boat Club’s corporate ownership and franchise owners/operators will work together in a cause marketing program and platform to raise both awareness and funds for this well-respected 110-year old organization. Big Brothers Big Sisters is the largest volunteer-supported mentoring network in the nation, encompassing more than 300 affiliates that serve 170,000 children. The organization professionally matches adult volunteers known as ‘Bigs’ with 6-18-year-old children known as ‘Littles’ in communities throughout the country.
As its campaign theme, “BOATING BIG! ALL ABOARD FOR THE LITTLES,” Freedom Boat Clubs throughout the nation including the Lake St. Clair operation will host a variety of approved fund raising initiatives and special events in cooperation with local Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates, concluding with a “All on Deck” boating party on Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 1:00 pm at Hideaway Harbor Marina 36290 Jefferson, Harrison Township, MI 48045. This event is open to the public and will feature boat rides, a kids fishing derby and other fun activities for Bigs and Littles as well as the general public, including lunch and entertainment.
“My partner, Rick Dobreff, and I are thrilled to be working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, its local affiliate in Detroit and to support the outstanding work they do in serving and mentoring the youth in Detroit and throughout the country,” said Steven Dobreff, Owner, Freedom Boat Club – Lake St. Clair. “I am honored to be a Volunteer Big myself and to have our new business involved in this great program is beyond words.” John Gigilio, the owner and President of the National Freedom Boat Club and our corporate headquarters marketing team and national marketing advisory council developed this concept and vetted a variety of charitable candidates. Ultimately, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America was chosen because we all love the idea of giving back to kids and we are especially pleased that the majority of the funds we will raise will go directly to support and benefit the good work done by our local affiliate, Detroit Big Brothers Big Sisters. In addition, we are really excited to host a fun party here at Hideaway Harbor Marina in Harrison Township and take Bigs and Littles for boat rides our Freedom Boat Club boats.”
“We are always appreciative of partners who help not only raise valuable funds, but who provide the opportunity for matches to create priceless memories,” said Pam Iorio, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America President and CEO. “This is the start of a great national partnership with Freedom Boast Club that will ultimately help us support more children across the country.”
As part of the campaign, Freedom Boat Club franchise owners/operators are paired with local Big Brother Big Sister affiliates in their respective communities, and both will work together to plan events to best suit their unique markets.
One of the initiatives that FBC of Lake St. Clair is planning is donating $100 to BBBS Detroit for every new member that joins Freedom Boat Club of Lake St. Clair. We are also raffling off a free one-month membership to Freedom Boat Club for a $10 donation. In addition, we have reached out to many others in the marine industry and local communities to help support this event. Additional information will be forthcoming about other specific fundraising initiatives and special events to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters in the region.
We need additional sponsors and volunteers, and persons willing to loan fishing poles and kids life jackets.
For more information about Freedom Boat Club and its BOATING BIG! ALL ABOARD FOR THE LITTLES campaign in the region, contact Freedom Boat Club of Lake St. Clair’s owner, Steven Dobreff, sdobreff@freedomboatclub.com / 586-873-7791, and/or FBC Corporate’s Chief Marketing Officer Wanda Kenton Smith – 407-697-8055, Email, www.freedomboatclub.com. Likewise, for information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, visit www.bbbs.org