Although an announcement was made a couple of weeks after the Speed On The Water Key West Bash, which took place last year on November 10 during the Offshore World Championship produced by Race World Offshore in Key West, Florida, and Florida Powerboat Club’s Key West Poker. Run—The ninth annual event raised more than $105,000, $41,000 of which went to Hurricane Ian recovery efforts in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., money from the #WeAreFMB Resilient fund was unveiled Monday.
Shaun Torrente, left, and Geoff Tomlinson, right, present the $41,265 in donations raised through the Speed On The Water 2022 Key West Bash presented by CMR Construction and Roofing to Mari Torgerson and Dawn Thomas of Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club. Photo by Flavia Torrente
Gathered in a Fort Myers Beach neighborhood hit by the hurricane in late September, two members of the nonprofit Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club, Dawn Thomas and Mari Torgerson, accepted Shaun Torrente’s $41,265 donation of Shaun Torrente Racing. and Geoff Tomlinson of Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats, representatives of the two local companies that helped match the $2,500 donations for the Key West Bash, which was presented by CMR Construction and Roofing with the theme “Racing to Rebuild.”
Based in Naples, Fla., CMR matched the $2,500 donation as did Powerboat P1, Race World Offshore and Speedonthewater.com. WHM Motorsports owner Billy Mauff also weighed in at the party to pledge a $10,000 donation to help Fort Myers Beach, a community the New York native adores, through the #WeAreFMB Resilient fund hosted by the Fort Myers Beach Women’s Club and Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation.
“The Women’s Club of Fort Myers Beach really wants to thank speedonthewater.com and the businesses that supported their fundraising efforts for the generous donation of $41,265,” Thomas said after walking through the neighborhood Monday morning with Tomlinson. and Torrente, who was joined by his wife, Flavia. “We really appreciate the generosity. We have currently awarded $570,000 directly to local residents affected by the hurricane. It is thanks to people like the speedboat community and so many others that the island will rebuild and come back better than before.”
Tomlinson, who is grateful to work for a company that is serious about giving back to its community (see Nor-Tech related stories below), said it was clear there is still a lot of work to be done to make Fort Myers Beach and surrounding communities return to normality. He shared a handful of images, one of which included a boat stuck in someone’s driveway, from his walk around the neighborhood.
Take a look at the slideshow above to see several images courtesy of Geoff Tomlinson.
Thomas said they took the group photo with the check, which was provided by Kinetic Animation’s Ryan Beckley, in front of one of their neighbors’ houses, or at least what was left of it.
“Shaun and Flavia were blown away that there were still boats in people’s backyards,” Thomas said. “I want to say that we are getting there, but it will take time. The good news is that every day something new happens around here.”
Of course, Thomas and Torgerson are still accepting donations if anyone wants to contribute to the #WeAreFMB Resilient fund.
related stories
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Nor-Tech reflects on giving and thanks at the end of the year
Nor-Tech Calls on Industry for Final Hurricane Ian Relief Push
Mercury Racing and Nor-Tech Power Hurricane Ian relief effort at $114,983
Nor-Tech partners with Cape Coral care center for Hurricane Ian relief
Nor-Tech focused on outreach after Hurricane Ian
‘Racing To Rebuild’ is the theme song for Speed On The Water Key West Bash
Nor-Tech steps forward with trade-focused Fort Myers offshore scholarship effort
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Nor-Tech Continues 30th Anniversary of ‘Year of Giving’ with Food Pantry Donation
Nor-Tech makes charity an art form with an online auction
Fort Myers Offshore Season Launch, Final Schedule Details Coming Soon
