Record 64 cardboard boats to race in this summer’s Whirlpool Corporation’s "Rock the Boat" event July 19
MEDIA RELEASE
UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
7.12.18
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ryan Cheevers / 269.932.3546
Record 64 cardboard boats to race in this summer’s Whirlpool Corporation’s "Rock the Boat" event July 19
United Way of Southwest Michigan benefits from the annual event at The Inn at Harbor Shores
The number of cardboard boats in the 2018 Whirlpool Corporation’s “Rock the Boat” race has more than doubled to 64 in its third year—up from 30 last year. There were five boats in the race the first year.
The race in the St. Joseph River starts at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 19 at the Inn at Harbor Shores, 800 Whitwam Dr., St Joseph, Michigan. Proceeds from the company-sponsored event will benefit United Way of Southwest Michigan. The race next Thursday kicks off St. Joseph Today’s Midsummer Classic Weekend.
The event is open to the public, and there will be food and t-shirts available for sale. Raffle tickets will be sold on-site for drawings that evening. Spectators can enjoy a beer garden and watch the race on a jumbotron by DPM Events.
The final boat count exceeded Whirlpool’s goal this year of 60 boats. Registration has closed. Racers paid an entry fee of $250.
“This event has really gained popularity around this community over the past few years. To have 64 boats registered is incredible. And all the proceeds, from the boat registration fee to items sold at the event, will benefit United Way of Southwest Michigan,” said Whirlpool Corporation’s Matt Meier, co-chair of Whirlpool Corporation’s United Way campaign.
The life-size boats are made of cardboard, duct tape, and polyurethane, and powered entirely by human paddling.
Many prizes will be handed out throughout the night, from Fastest Boat to Most Creative and Best Themed.
Names of teams and boats are as follows (can also be found at www.uwsm.org/rocktheboat):
Accenture – The Cool Boat
AEP Cook Nuclear Power Plant – Cook Revengers
Alex’s Veggies – CORNZILLA
ARS Advertising Inc. – Approved. No Changes.
Berrien County Health Department sponsored by CMG Financial – Lettuce Turnip the Beet
Blossomtime Festival Inc. – Royalty Racers
CAC/CXC – KNOTTY CXC
Caring Circle, The – Up Up and Away
CELEBRATION! CINEMA BENTON HARBOR – Flick’s Dinghy
Consumer Products Group – SeaPG
Deloitte Consulting LLP (GSS) – Compensation Nation
Dr. Kasewurm’s Professional Hearing Services – Shake Your Tail Feather
Erhard Furniture & Flooring – The Swimterns
Fenner Homes - Maiden Lane Cottages
Gast Manufacturing – Gast Boat #1
Gast Manufacturing – Gast Parrot Heads
Great Lakes Drone Company – DroneBait
GSS Indirect – Boaty McBoatface
Haymarket Brewery and Taproom – U.S.S. BOB
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics - (GSS) – ISC you at the finish line
Holt Bosse – Wise Kraken
JennAir (Marketing) – T Party
Kinexus – The InternShip
Lake Michigan College – Rocky BalBOATa
The Livery – McGilligans Island
Niles-Buchanan YMCA – S.S. Nessie (“Sweat Ship Nessie”)
North Pier Brewing Co. – North Pier Nation
Overture – The Overture
Pasha Hawaii (GSS) – U.S.S. Operation Sinks Alot
Peat’s Original Cider – Hard Core
ROCK 107 WIRX – S.S. Good Enough II
Silver Harbor Brewing Co. – Shipfaced
Southwestern Michigan College – Roadrunner
United Federal Credit Union – This Putts 4 U
United Way of Southwest Michigan – Out of Time
Whirlpool (Finance) – Liquid Asset
Whirlpool Corporation (Corporate Communications) – Noel’s Ark
Whirlpool Corporation - Best Buy Sales Team – Best Buy Sails
Whirlpool Corporation - Cooking Engineering Team – AcquaCucina
Whirlpool Corporation - Home Depot – Big Orange
Whirlpool Corporation - Key Account Sales – S.S. MPI Cutter
Whirlpool Corporation - Key Account Sales – The Yellow Submarine
Whirlpool Corporation - Kitchen Team – One Love, One Kitchen
Whirlpool Corporation - Quality – The Incredible Hull
Whirlpool Corporation – Camakau LEARN
Whirlpool Corporation – Gone Phishin’
Whirlpool Corporation – Unsinkable II
Whirlpool Corporation (GIS) – U.S.S. Big Data 2.0
Whirlpool Corporation - Sinking Ship
Whirlpool Creative Studios – Floating Arrrtists!
Whirlpool Field Sales - S.S. Under Allocated Part II
Whirlpool Field Sales - FSNC Rocks - In it to WIN it!
Whirlpool Hispanic and Latino ERG - WHL
Whirlpool Human Resources – H-Arrgh
Whirlpool Laundry (Marketing) – The Extra Power Agitators
Whirlpool Law Department – The Ex Parte Barge
Whirlpool PRIDE ERG - PRIDE
Whirlpool Quality Team – S.S. Safe Launch
Whirlpool WERLD Program – W.E.R.L.D. Domination
Whirlpool Women’s Network ERG – Champions for Change
Whirlpool: Brand & Strategy Organization – S.S. B&S
Wightman – S.S. Hasselhoff
Wipro Limited – Wipro BOT
Y-County 97.5 – S.S. Y Tanic
For more information, visit www.uwsm.org/rocktheboat.
ABOUT UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
United Way of Southwest Michigan fights for the Health, Education and Financial Stability of every person in every community. We have the influence and relationships to make sustainable change a reality. By harnessing resources from corporate, nonprofit, and public partners, we provide immediate assistance to our most vulnerable populations while addressing the root causes of our community's longstanding challenges and changing lives for the better. To join the fight—through giving, advocacy and volunteering—visit www.uwsm.org.
