Friends, supporters and strangers gathered at The Starboard Aug. 24, to play, punch and bid their way to raise $30,110 for the ninth annual SeeShore Fest.
“We did it! We reached our $30,000 fundraising goal,” said event organizer Heather Napolitano. “Between that, watching everyone get excited for their prize behind the punch, and so many people from our community being there, it was truly our best year yet.”
In 2015, Heather launched the event with her husband Dom to spread awareness about sight loss and provide research funding after she began losing her vision in 2013.
Heather has a working diagnosis of autoimmune retinopathy, meaning her body is attacking her vision. There is no cure, and she relies heavily on her peripheral vision, but what she sees often resembles an abstract painting.
In nine years, the event has raised more than $166,000 to benefit the Foundation Fighting Blindness and The Eye Institute.
Before the day’s events began, Dom said local business and community members had already donated $14,000 in sponsorships and funding.
“We have more sponsors than ever before,” Dom said.
The big draw was the punch board, a large display Dom created that hides prizes behind a sheet of paper that participants punch through to reveal. Long lines queued up for a chance to win prizes ranging in value from $25 to $500.
Plenty of silent auction items, raffles worth up to $5,000 and children’s games were also available in and around the outside tent.
Learn more at facebook.com/SeeShoreFest.