June 10 2016 (Deer Park, NY) - United Way of Long Island is giving companies, organizations, families and friends the chance to battle for bragging rights on The Peconic River this summer by entering a four-person team in the annual Paddle Battle Long Island Team Challenge. The Paddle Battle will be held on Saturday, July 30th at the town docks in Riverhead with proceeds from the Team Challenge going to United Way of Long Island’s VetsBuild Program, as well the Long Island Aquarium.
The Paddle Battle Team Challenge is a recreational Stand Up Paddle Board and Kayak race where groups will compete against each other for the coveted Paddle Battle Team Challenge trophy. The race will consist of teams of four competitors who will traverse the 2.5 mile race course designed for all skill levels. The team with the overall best combined time will take home the championship trophy along with the title of Top Team. The Award Ceremony will take place during a Family BBQ and Bash, which will include food, music, drinks and more for those cheering the teams on from the sidelines.
“It’s fantastic to see teams come out in the spirit of healthy competition to raise funds and awareness for Long Island veterans and their families,” said Theresa A. Regnante, President & CEO of United Way of Long Island. “We encourage anyone who has an interest in paddle boarding or kayaking, no matter their skill level, to come and test the waters to help our hometown heroes.”
“The Paddle Battle Team Challenge event is filled with fun, but it’s important for us to recognize the seriousness of the programs the proceeds will support,” said Bryan DeLuca, executive director of the Long Island Aquarium. “We want to fill the Peconic River with tons of paddleboards and kayaks to show that we stand behind our men and women who served.”
Teams can register for the Paddle Battle Long Island Corporate Challenge through United Way of Long Island by contacting Fabrizio Bustos at Fabrizio@unitedwayli.org or (631) 940-3708 to obtain their registration form. For more information on the event visit http://www.unitedwayli.org/paddle-battle-team-challenge.
The team challenge is an exciting addition to the annual “Paddle Battle Long Island” race which has been a great success for the past three years. The Peconic River is a beautiful stretch of estuary on Long Island’s east end and a perfect location for this event.
About VetsBuild Long Island
VetsBuild is a partnership program with United Way of Long Island and United Veterans Beacon House to help veterans find employment in the green construction industry. The grant from New York State Department of State will expand career training services for veterans. At no cost, veterans will be trained for green collar employment opportunities in energy efficiency, renewables, weatherization, Energy-Star construction, home performance, HVAC and home restoration. Training will be conducted at United Way’s E3 SmartBuild Training Center.
About United Way of Long Island
United Way of Long Island advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks of education, financial stability and health. We recruit people and organizations that bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. LIVE UNITED® is a call to action for everyone to become part of the change. United Way of Long Island is part of a worldwide network spanning across 41 countries and territories, including more than 1,200 local organizations in the U.S. For more information about United Way of Long Island, please visit www.UnitedWayLI.org, Facebook or Twitter.
About Paddle Battle Team Challenge
The Long Island Aquarium founded the Paddle Battle, which has traditionally attracted individuals to compete against each other. Due to the new Team Challenge division that was added last year, groups were attracted to this recreational fundraiser, making it appealing to all no matter their skill level. The event was less focused on the race aspect, and more on enjoying a fun outing with friends, family or colleagues.
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