Fishing For A Cause at Shake-A-Leg Miami

Nicolas Estrella, Sofy Rios, Henry Cespedes and Luis Burguera

On Saturday, June 15, the Monica Burguera Boating Safety Foundation held their 4th Annual Fishing For a Cause benefiting boating safety awareness and education in Miami-Dade County. 

Anglers and guest were greeted by smiling foundation staff members and volunteers at Shake- A- Leg Miami in Coconut Grove. The tournament had over 30 boats participating and over 150 family and supporters joined for the day festivities to raise funds for a great local cause that works hard to educate our community of water-lovers on how to stay safe while navigating our beautiful waterways. 

The foundation currently offers free monthly boating safety classes in partnership with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 67 and 69. Classes are in English and Spanish and held in the foundations office located in 3750 West Flagler Street. Graduates who complete the program and exam are awarded USCG Auxiliary Certificate of Accomplishment and the Florida Boater’s ID. The ID is required to operate a vessel for persons born after or on January 1, 1988.

The Monica Burguera Foundation also announced at the tournament awards and cocktail ceremony that Henry Cespedes, Flotilla Staff Officer – Public Education for the USCG Auxiliary - has been selected by the Florida Fishing and Wildlife Conservation Commission as the 2013 Boating Safety Educator of the Year for the State of Florida, and in turn was selected as the National Association of Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Southern Region Boating Safety Educator of the Year (the first time a Florida boating safety educator has been selected as a NASBLA regional winner), and has been invited to attend the NASBLA Conference in Boise, Idaho this year where the national winner will be recognized during the awards ceremony.  

“We’re so excited for Henry Cespedes and proud to announce his achievement. Events like our Fishing for a Cause Tournament help support and fund the free monthly boating safety classes that are held in partnership with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 67 and 69. We will continue the Monica Burguera Foundation’s mission – to make our local waterways safer through education,” said Nick Estrella, President of the Monica Burguera Foundation.

“It is in great part due to the partnership with a visionary organization like the MBF, the Burguera and Estrella families that Henry was able to achieve this wonderful milestone in his lifelong dedication to public education for boating safety. I am sure it will also be seen as a great achievement related to the memory of Monica,” said Division Commander Tom Walker, DCDR 6.