Let the kids fish! Making a difference via “Hooked on a Cure” for JDRF.
Along with many generous donors and sponsors, MTW participated in the annual 2022 “Hooked on a Cure” (HOAC) Captains’ Party and Fishing Tournament to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in their effort to help the thousands of children and adults living with Type 1. JDRF is near and dear to the MTW family as Matt White’s (MTW President and CEO) wife Cindy battled Type 1 diabetes until her transplants in 2014. The HOAC Captains’ Party was a great night out where we enjoyed music, food, silent auctions, and chances to win great prizes. On the day of the fishing tournament, MTW was paired with some of the best charter captains in the Tampa Bay Area.
Ed Cooke (MTW COO) sponsored six (6) of the nine (9) kids boats, giving kids battling juvenile diabetes a day of fishing with their parents. Cooke, who has been an avid donor to HOAC since its inception said, “This event is always about the kids, they deserve to smile, and just be kids. The MTW staff always steps up with fundraising and participating every year. I am proud to be an owner of a company that gives back in so many ways. I am humbled to witness the generosity of all involved, first and foremost Matt, Cindy, and Lindsey, but also from the entire MTW staff, the captains, the sponsors, the donors, the volunteers, and the participants. To see a child smile is priceless, and so is fundraising for such a great cause.”
As usual, the pre-tournament festivities and the fishing tournament were a great success. Lindsey Suarez, Director of Non-Profit Enterprises at Hooked on a Cure, said “Thank you to everyone that participated. Because of your tremendous generosity and support, we are pleased to announce that HOAC surpassed their fundraising goal for this event and will be donating $55,000 to JDRF”.
Hooked on a Cure is a community-driven non-profit in the Tampa Bay area. For more information about HOAC and how you can get involved, please visit: www.hoactampa.com. And be sure to look at the “boatloads” of event photos on Facebook and Instagram using the social icons provided here.
JDRF is the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization.
For more information about JDRF and to find local events in your area, please visit: www.jdrf.org.
