Located in Burlington, The HowardCenter “improves the well-being of children, adults, families, and communities.” as it reads in their mission statement. This holiday season, they have been truly living up to that commitment through their Holiday Giving Program, and are looking for a few more sponsors to ensure that all of their listed families benefit from this gracious endeavor to help others in the community.

The Holiday Giving Program, run by the Child, Youth & Family Services arm of HC, brings hope and happiness to those who are unable to afford Christmas gifts for their families by calling upon those who wish to sponsor a family. The involvement of these sponsors will aid in making sure each child has a gift, and each family member a smile, as the holidays approach.

There are 100 families being sponsored this year, and as of now there are 18 left who are in need of sponsorship. The families are broken down as such:

• 7 — one-child families
• 3 — 2-child families
• 5 — 3-child families
• 2 — 4-child families
• 1 — 7-child family

Burlington Boatyard, who has become familiar with HC through their friends at Lake Champlain International, Inc. (LCI), supports this program and encourages anyone who may be able to help to do so, no matter big or small. Please reach out to HC and offer your support at any level you can, as the gesture of giving a little, can resonate largely throughout the lives of others as they feel the support, care and understanding of others during this time of year.

If you have additional questions about the Holiday Giving Program, or wish to make a contribution, please contact Catherine Shahan at 802-488-6651or Kesta Perras, at 802-488-6913 or visit their website here.

Thank you for your consideration in the program and best wishes during the holiday season.

- The Burlington Boatyard Crew

Yesterday I read a nice piece in the Free Press about our friends at the ECHO Center that truly speaks to what holiday spirit, and being a thoughtful business within the community, is all about.

If you are interested in becoming an annual member of ECHO, or are renewing your already existing annual membership, ECHO will provide that same level of pass to a low-income family within the community.

The ECHO Center is an unbelievable resource for the city of Burlington and the state of Vermont in general. Their exhibits attract everyone from kids in their strollers to those who have been residents for decades. Not to mention, it is a great tourist attraction for those that visit the Burlington area, and displays with pride all that Champlain is about and has to offer. The history, presentation, remarkable research and beneficial school programs are just a few things that make ECHO an invaluable asset to our community.

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On November 13, the University of Vermont Wakeboard Club held a showing of the video, The Truth at Brennan’s, a local pub and bistro located at UVM in the Davis Center. The Truth showcases the remarkably talented Liquid Force Wakeboarding Team as they display their extraordinary abilities out on the water. Liquid Force is a company dedicated to bringing wakeboarding, wakeskating, and wakesurfing into the spotlight in the world of professional sports.

There was a great showing for this premier, as many students came out to support their peers in the club. Burlington Boatyard, a local online company devoted to connecting the Vermont marine community, made an appearance and showed their support for the cause. Guy Mitrano, CEO of Burlington Boatyard and UVM alumnus (’06), spoke with students and voiced ways in which they could assist and become a member of the up-and-coming UVM Wakeboard Club. He also manned the sponsor table, giving away free, floating key chains and displaying the BBY-UVM Wakeboard Club video produced this fall. This was one of BBY’s first actions taken in being the group’s initial major sponsor, and was produced this fall.

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