Diamond Cup Regatta gets $40K
<p>From left to right: Katherine Coppock, Coeur d’Alene Convention and Visitor Bureau manager, Bill Reagan, general manager of The Coeur d’Alene Resort, Doug Miller, president of Coeur d’Alene Diamond Cup, JJ Jaeger, chairman of the Idaho Travel Council and Steve Wilson, president/CEO of the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce. The Idaho Travel Council and Coeur d’Alene Convention and Visitor Bureau are the latest sponsors to join the Coeur d’Alene Diamond Cup, which will hold H1 Unlimited hydroplane racing on Lake Coeur d’Alene this Labor Day weekend.&l…
COEUR d'ALENE - They're zipping to the financial finish line.
Organizers spearheading the return of hydroplane racing to Lake Coeur d'Alene received another shot in the arm Wednesday when the Idaho Travel Council and Coeur d'Alene Convention and Visitor Bureau donated $40,000.
The two groups champion for tourism in the Gem State, and each pitched in $20,000 to help promote the Labor Day weekend races that some proponents believe can one day become Idaho's biggest tourism draw.
"That's our mission. We put heads on pillows and bring guests to our state," said JJ Jaeger, ITC chairman, on hand Wednesday at Riverstone to present the check to the Diamond Cup Regatta. "And this will do that."
The races, many know by now, have been out of commission since the 1960s. They're set to return in less than a month, when the H1 unlimited sanctioned races roar near Silver Beach over the holiday weekend.
Diamond Cup Regatta Board Chairman Doug Miller said he's unsure exactly how much the group has raised as things are frantic preparing for the event. Organizers are trying to raise $300,000 and $100,000 worth of in-kind donations. Miller said they've surpassed the in-kind total, but wasn't sure where they fell on the $300,000 cash drive.
"We're doing good, I know that," he said.
As for volunteers, they've added around 40 more since a Tuesday story called for their need for help. They have about 160 volunteers signed up now, and they're shooting for 300.
But how good is good when it comes to the financial drive?
"We are real happy," a beaming Miller said during the photo op at Riverstone to announce the $40,000 donation. "The only thing we're missing is the cigar."