United Way of Southwest Michigan's ROCK THE BOAT Presented By Honor Credit Union is Back July 17th
ST. JOSEPH, MI (April 10, 2025) – United Way of Southwest Michigan’s annual Rock The Boat cardboard boat races held in the St. Joseph River Channel is coming back Thursday, July 17, 2025 presented by Honor Credit Union. The event serves as one of the signature fundraising events for the organization, hosted by the Inn at Harbor Shores in St. Joseph.
This unique event, which features life-size boats made entirely of cardboard, will be raced in heats in the river channel for spectators to see in-person and online at RockTheBoatForUnitedWay.com, with the goal of raising funds for United Way of Southwest Michigan and having a bit of fun! With 75 total spots available for competing teams, the races are expected to draw crowds of over 1,000 people. 2024’s event raised over $30,000 for local programs and saw over 20 boats participating. 2025’s goal is 50 boats participating. This year’s theme is Hawaiian, but boat builders can use any theme they’d like to incorporate into their build.
Recognizing the need for more participation in the event, boat registration fees have been lowered to $350 per boat, down $150 from the previous year. This is thanks in part to United Way’s partnership with Honor Credit Union to help bring the event back to Southwest Michigan for another fun year.
“Rock the Boat is one of those special events that reminds us how fun and meaningful giving back can be. At Honor Credit Union, we’re all about supporting our communities, and we’re proud to partner with United Way of Southwest Michigan to help create real, lasting impact," said Scott McFarland, CEO of Honor Credit Union. “Being part of this event isn’t just about cheering on the cardboard boat races—it’s about coming together as a community, having fun, and fueling the important work United Way does for local families and individuals.”
“We absolutely could not do this huge event without Honor’s help,” stated Anna Murphy, President & CEO of United Way of Southwest Michigan. “Their partnership helps us cover the immense costs to put on an event of this size and allows us to make sure the participants have a lower barrier to entry to be part of the contest while also helping United Way.”
Registration is open through Saturday, July 5, and prospective participants can easily sign up online at RockTheBoatForUnitedWay.com. Free cardboard to use for builds is available at United Container Company in St. Joseph as well. Teams will be added to Rock the Boat’s peer-to-peer voting platform, allowing teams to receive monetary donations toward their chance to win either the Captain’s Award for the most dollars raised, or the People’s Choice Award for the most individual donors. Voting is available prior to, and during the event. Proceeds from the event go directly to United Way of Southwest Michigan’s 2025 campaign, and the employee campaigns of participating employers.
In addition to Honor Credit Union’s generous presenting sponsorship, United Way’s Series sponsors have also stepped up to bring this event to the public for another great year. They include Silver Beach Pizza, Gast Manufacturing, and Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren. Additional sponsors include 99.9 Y Country, the Inn at Harbor Shores, the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, and Curi RMB Capital.
About United Way of Southwest Michigan
United Way of Southwest Michigan works to create a united & resilient community where everyone contributes, belongs, and thrives. We harness resources from corporate, nonprofit, and public partners to address our community's most pressing challenges and make lasting change. Join us in giving, advocacy, and volunteering by visiting uwsm.org
