Despite pandemic, Borden Light Marina raises thousands for Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island

February 2, 2021 — Supporters of Borden Light Marina’s 14th Annual Charity Poker Run have raised $11,000 in support of Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island and its mission of creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, according to Hillary Muntz from Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

This fundraising achievement is especially significant considering that, like many events, the 2020 in-person event was cancelled due to COVID-19. Past sponsors and participants from the performance boating community rallied not only to support wish children, but also to honor the late Paul Fiore, founder of Hustler Powerboats, who passed away in November of 2019.

Borden Light Marina owners Michael and Nicole Lund sought to continue their support for Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, in lieu of their cancelled event, by requesting all event donations be made in Paul’s name. Major event sponsors and contributors fulfilled their 2020 event commitments in honor of Fiore, enabling the Borden Light Marina community to continue its tradition of generosity in helping to bring hope, strength, and joy to local Make-A-Wish children. The marina held a private ceremony in the open water of Point Judith, Rhode Island, to remember Fiore.

Muntz, who is the Community Partnerships Manager at Make-A-Wish, praised Borden Light Marina. “Here at Make-A-Wish, we are very grateful to have charity partners like Nicole and Michael. Their boating community experienced an incredible loss, alongside the disappointment of a cancelled event, and turned it into something so positive for their community.”

According to Muntz, the annual Borden Light Marina poker run has raised over $200,000 for a variety of charities throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since its inception. In 2019, $35,000 was raised for Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which helped grant three special wishes for children with critical illness; two in Massachusetts and one in Rhode Island.

The Borden Light Marina community will hit the water for the 2021 Charity Poker Run to benefit Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island on August 7, 2021, at Borden Light Marina, located at 1 Ferry Street in Fall River.

To learn more about Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island and how you can get involved, visit massri.wish.org.