Fishlanthropy returns Oct. 16

On Friday, Oct. 16, the High Fives Foundation will return to Sushi Yoshi in Stowe for the second annual Fishlanthropy For Fives fundraising event. There is no entrance fee for the guests, and the menu is priced the same as normal.

A cast of Vermont celebrities will be in attendance, but they will be the servers and waitstaff, taking orders and bringing food and drinks to attendees.

Last year, the event raised over $8,000 for High Fives, a mountain action sports nonprofit that gives grant funding and resources to athletes who have sustained life-altering injuries, such as spinal cord or brain injuries.

Sushi Yoshi will donate 25 percent of overall sales back to the foundation, as well as 100 percent of the tips for the night. Other funds will be raised in the fortune cookie raffle, bobbing for ducks and chances to win gift cards.

“There is no other event like this around here,” said Nate Freund, owner of Sushi Yoshi. “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,’” said Esbert Cardenas, president of event sponsor iShare Works. “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.”

Included on the celebrity roster are John and Jen Kimmich of the Alchemist Brewery, Ric Cabot of Darn Tough Socks, local ski legend John Egan, professional skier Ian Compton, Stowe legend Mike Carey, Corinne Prevot of Skida, Jesse Murphy of the Vermont North Pro Team, and many more.

“We had an amazing turnout and a fun time last year at Fishlanthropy. We had to do it again,” said Roy Tuscany, executive director of High Fives. “This is one of the most unique events we do to raise money for our athletes.”

Tuscany, 34, a native of Waterbury, 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 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 also be giving presentations about mountain safety at school assemblies in the area.

Fishlanthropy is a collaboration between the High Fives Foundation, Sushi Yoshi, iShare Works, the Alchemist Brewery, and Vermont North Ski Shop.

More info: Highfivesfoundation.org.