Return of the Dragons!

BALTIMORE, Aug. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities of Baltimore will host its 10^th biennial Dragon Boat Races on Saturday, September 10, 2016, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Thirty-two teams will compete in all-day elimination races to raise funds for Catholic Charities' 80 human service programs that benefit children and families, seniors, people impacted by poverty, immigrants and individuals with intellectual disabilities—and to win the coveted Dragon Cup and bragging rights.

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Each team is partnered with one of the programs of Catholic Charities of Baltimore, raising funds, volunteering and hosting events to benefit the clients. Catholic Charities expects to raise $700,000 for its programs.

There are five sponsorship levels for the teams: Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Team and Non profit. BGE and Harkins Builders are Platinum sponsors of Dragon Boat Races 2016.

In the words of Bill McCarthy, Catholic Charities of Baltimore executive director: "The Dragon Boat Races are a win for everyone. In addition to training for the competition and building teamwork, the paddlers create new and enduring friendships with their colleagues and get to know the programs of Catholic Charities and the challenges our clients and guests face. Our programs, and most importantly, our clients, benefit tremendously from the generosity and energy that the teams bring. This event really showcases the best of Baltimore –individuals, corporations and service providers working together to improve the lives of people in need right here in our community."

Platinum sponsors are BGE and Harkins Builders, Inc.

The Diamond Sponsor is SunTrust Bank.

Gold sponsors include Allegis Group, Hamel Builders, KPMG, LLP, M&T Bank and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company.

Team Sponsors
AOL
Bank of America
Brown Advisory
CohnReznick
DAP Products Inc.
Erickson Living
Heritage Financial
Johns Hopkins Health Care LLC
Legg Mason
PayPal
PNC Bank
T. Rowe Price
Transamerica
Wells Fargo

Non profit Team Sponsors
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Archdiocese of Baltimore
Cathedral of Mary Our Queen
Catholic Charities of Baltimore
Catholic Relief Services
Johns Hopkins Medicine International
Office of the Mayor of Baltimore
St. John the Evangelist School, Severna Park
School of the Incarnation
U.S. Air Force

Dragon Boat Facts:

The races begin at the World Trade Center and end in front of the Maryland Science Center. Teams advance to the next round by placing best time in elimination heats.

• Teams race in replicas of Chinese dragon boats with intricately carved dragon heads.
• The boats are 45 feet long by 4 feet wide, and the course is 1,290 feet long.
• 22-member teams keep it fast-paced. A drummer and steerer complete the team. The lead paddlers set the pace of the race. All other paddlers synchronize their strokes to the lead right paddler.
• Teams compete for the prize of best whimsically decorated team tent and rousing team chant.
• Rash Field serves as Tent City where all teams converge to rest and regroup between races.
• Dragon Boat races are free and open to the public, offering a fun-filled day for thousands of participants and spectators.
• Dragon boat racing premiered in Baltimore in 1998 with Catholic Charities' first race which commemorated its 75^th anniversary.
• An anticipated crowd of 10,000 spectators.

Past Dragon Cup winners:

2014 – T. Rowe Price
2012 – T. Rowe Price
2010 – Brown Advisory
2008 – T. Rowe Price and
          Struever Bros Eccles & Rouse
2006 – T. Rowe Price
2004 – Baltimore City Fire Department
2002 – Harkins Builders
2000 – Harkins Builders
1998 – Verizon

About Catholic Charities of Baltimore
Catholic Charities of Baltimore is Maryland's largest private provider of human services, offering assistance to children and families, people living in poverty, individuals with intellectual disabilities, immigrants and seniors without regard to religion, race or other circumstances. Inspired by the Gospel mandates to love, serve and teach, the more than 80 programs of Catholic Charities improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of Marylanders each year. Catholic Charities continues a legacy of charity and compassion that began with the establishment of the Catholic Church in Baltimore in 1789. For more information, please visit www.cc-md.org.

Catholic Charities has experts available to discuss a wide variety of topics, including poverty, homelessness, mental health, intellectual disabilities, immigration and issues related to aging.

Contact:  Bob Keenan
(443) 263-1929 or (202) 320-3632

SOURCE Catholic Charities of Baltimore