When// Friday, October 16th, 2015
Where// Sushi Yoshi, 1128 Mountain Rd, Stowe, VT 05672, (802) 253-4135
Time// 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Cost// Sushi Yoshi marked prices
On October 16, 2015, the High Fives Foundation will return to Sushi Yoshi of Stowe for the 2nd annual Fishlanthropy For Fives event. It is an unusual fundraising format for a charity dinner. There is no entrance fee for the guests, and the menu is priced the same as normal. There will be a big cast of Vermont celebrities in attendance, but they won’t be eating alongside everyone — they will be the servers and waitstaff.
Last year the event raised over $8,000 for the High Fives Foundation, a non-profit in mountain action sports that raises money to provide resources to athletes who have sustained life-altering injuries such as spinal cord or brain injuries.
Sushi Yoshi donates 25% of the overall sales of the night back to the Foundation, as well as 100% of the tips for the night.
“There is no other event like this around here,” said Nate Fruend, owner of Sushi Yoshi. “This shows that you don’t need to have a super fancy black and white gala to raise good money for a good cause.”
“The celebrities, we’re calling them “The Fish.” They are hilarious as the waiters and waitresses,” said Esbert Cardenas, president of iShare Works, a sponsor of Fishlanthropy. “Some of them know what they’re doing, but some of them don’t. It’s so entertaining that they can’t help but earn big tips for the High Fives Foundation.” iShare works is a local company that makes promotional materials for for-profit companies, with 10% of sales going back to charities like the High Fives Foundation and others.
List of Celebrities//
John and Jen Kimmich – Alchemist Brewery
Ric Cabot – Darn Tough Socks
John Egan – Local Ski Legend
Ian Compton – Profesional Skier
Mike Carey – Stowe Legend
Corinne Prevot – Skida
Jesse Murphy – Vermont North Pro Team
and many more…
“We had an amazing turn out and a fun time last year at Fishlanthropy. We had to do it again,” said Roy Tuscany, Executive Director of the High Fives Foundation. “This is one of the most unique events we do to raise money for our athletes.”
Tuscany, 34, is a native of Waterbury, VT suffered a spinal cord injury in 2006 while aspiring to become a professional skier. Communities in Vermont and California raised money for his recovery, catalyzing the creation of his non-profit, The High Fives Foundation. Since 2009, High Fives has given grant funding for the recoveries of 89 athletes in 20 different states.
The High Fives Foundation will be in Vermont the surrounding weeks giving presentations about mountain safety at school assemblies in the area.
This event is a collaboration between the High Fives Foundation, Sushi Yoshi, iShare Works, The Alchemist Brewing Company, and Vermont North Ski Shop.
