Record Number of 'Toys for Tots' Collected
GERRY and PAMELA BARKER
North Palm Beach Life
The 2016 edition of the Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade was an unqualified success. Speaking Monday with Alyssa Freeman, director of operations for the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach, she said not only did thousands of spectators line the parade route, but also a record number of toys were collected to benefit "Toys for Tots."
"We collected 5,590 toys," she said in an interview at the MIA office in North Palm Beach. "That's more than we collected in total last year." Major credit goes to the community she said. "Everybody came out in full force like we asked. We have to thank the community big-time."
It helped that the weather was perfect. Other highlights she shared: The parade had a total of 50 boats, and the majority of them were in the parade for the first time.
And the big question: Which boat did the judges choose as the winning entry? The answer may surprise you: It was a 20-foot pontoon boat decorated like Santa's sleigh, and had a enthusiastic crew.
Listen to our complete interview with Alyssa in this podcast:
North Palm Beach Life
The 2016 edition of the Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade was an unqualified success. Speaking Monday with Alyssa Freeman, director of operations for the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach, she said not only did thousands of spectators line the parade route, but also a record number of toys were collected to benefit "Toys for Tots."
"We collected 5,590 toys," she said in an interview at the MIA office in North Palm Beach. "That's more than we collected in total last year." Major credit goes to the community she said. "Everybody came out in full force like we asked. We have to thank the community big-time."
It helped that the weather was perfect. Other highlights she shared: The parade had a total of 50 boats, and the majority of them were in the parade for the first time.
And the big question: Which boat did the judges choose as the winning entry? The answer may surprise you: It was a 20-foot pontoon boat decorated like Santa's sleigh, and had a enthusiastic crew.
Listen to our complete interview with Alyssa in this podcast:
Photos and Video
'Best of Show' Winning Entry in the 2016 Boat Parade (Photo Courtesy of Marine Industries Association)
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Photos and Video by North Palm Beach Life
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