Press Release
For immediate release: January 11, 2023 Contact: Marina Pavlov-Marchner, President CEO
Florida Association of Nonprofits 954.540.6118 c
Suggested title: Florida Nonprofits Wins
Florida Association of Nonprofits’ (Florida Nonprofits) entry in the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade wins in best in sailboat category 2023; other organizations that were part of the entry were Red Cross of Broward County and Gulfstream Sailing Club.
Captain Paul Jehlen and Kim Golodner donated the use of the beautiful 65-foot ketch Unexpected Pleasure. It was Number 99 in the parade.
Rick Stafford, “The True Aquaman” was on the bow waving to the audience. Dressed in True Aquaman fashion, he was the display celebrity, relevant to the theme “Neon Nightlife under the Sea”, graciously interacting with spectators on land before the parade started and never leaving his position at the front of the boat throughout the parade.
Sailorman, a Fort Lauderdale retail store that carries new, used & consigned products for small boats to super yachts, provided us with the rope and netting between the masts that held up our undersea nightlife, to make our display both unique and able to happen. The lighted figures on the netting between the mast were fish, mermaids, jellyfish, and turtles following the theme.
The boat was decorated by a group of generous volunteers drawn from the Red Cross of Broward County, Gulfstream Sailing Club, Captain Paul Jehlen, Kim Golodner and John Muir for Florida Nonprofits.
Dignitaries onboard were: GySgt Louis Slagle, USMC Retired Coordinator, and Ms. Brianna Roberts and Ms. Valerie Anderson from the Toys for Tots Foundation.
Television coverage was provided by WSVN Channel 7 and you can still watch it on YouTube and Facebook.
President Marina Pavlov-Marchner of the Florida Association of Nonprofits said, “So, John Muir, thank you for the second year in a row. You are our marketing hero! We are grateful for your donation. Your vision made tens of thousands of lights, a sailboat, volunteers, and a captain into a magic dream come to life. Thank you.”
Chairman Maria Hidalgo of the Florida Association of Nonprofits and Vitas Healthcare Volunteer Manager said, ”Thanks to all involved and we are grateful to corporate sponsors: Winterfest, Seminole Hard Rock Casino and Hotel, Sailorman, Red Cross of Broward County, Gulfstream Sailing Club, Toys For Tots, and The True Aquaman’s Rick Stafford.
With over a million viewers along the 12-mile parade route and an economic impact to Broward County of over $50 million, Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade is a Fort Lauderdale institution.
For more information and photographs contact Florida Association of Nonprofits President Marina Pavlov-Marchner at 954.549.6118 text.
Florida Nonprofits is a state-wide center and professional network of 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Florida. It was founded by nonprofit leaders in 1989 to enhance the well-being of all people in the communities in Florida by building the capacity of the nonprofit sector. Florida Nonprofits assists Florida’s more than 50,000 public charities to reach their mission by strengthening their leadership, management, financial, and public policy capacity.
Unexpected Pleasure in her Boat Parade finery.