Attention New England District Lightning Sailors - Help us get $50,000

[Bob Shapiro]

Attention New England District Lightning Sailors (and friends and family of Lightning Sailors)

The Lightning Class, as part of the Fuel The Flash 2030 fundraising campaign, has a super match challenge grant for 2026. Two donors are each giving $25,000 IF we get qualified matching dollars and donors. We have achieved the dollars, but are 90 short on the number of donors. Please if you have not given yet in 2026, consider a donation to the Class. Amount does not matter (suggest $20) we just need more donors.

We have 260 donors so far in 2026; can we get more Lightning sailors to donate? And your kids? and parents? cousins? spouses? dogs and cats? If you are thinking of giving $60, give $20 and have 2 family members give $20 each as well. We need the numbers to get the $50,000 match!

What are we doing with the money? We have 9 initiatives being supported by this; all trying to fuel Class growth and increased participation. Initiatives help get people into boats via the Boat Grant, Local Boat Grant and Pipeline programs. Helping build new boats with our New Molds initiative. Attracting new sailors with our market research/marketing initiative. Getting more volunteers to help the class be even better, U32 (under 32; 21-32 year old sailors) initiative to grow that key demographic, History Program (digitizing records, establishing Lightning Hall of Fame), and more.

You can donate to any of our 6 funds - whichever speaks to you. But please do it now - we need you! https://www.lightningclass.org/content.aspx?page_id=301...

Thank you! Bob Shapiro, co-chair Fuel The Flash 2030 Lightning Class fundraiser Lightning 15617 Three Bean Salad