Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, a non-profit that advocates for clean water and restoring and protecting Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and the marine environment, hosted their 16th Annual JetBlue Shamrock Splash.

They raised $6,110 for Lynn and Nahant Beach programs, as well as funds for East Boston, South Boston, Wollaston, Nantasket, Dorchester, Revere, and Winthrop. The event also included music, lawn games, food, and a live DJ set by Rilla Force, as well as a costume contest, where over 200 people dove into Constitution Beach in East Boston in bathing suits and themed costumes. 

Lynn’s own Joe Skahan was one of the winners of the costume contest and dressed up as Slash from Guns N’ Rose. He won a free round-trip JetBlue ticket to any destination within the airline’s network.  

“This year marks 20 years of tireless advocacy by the MBC for our metropolitan beaches,” MBC Co-Chair Sen. Brendan Crighton said, “And the Shamrock Splash and Better Beaches Program have played an important role in this work to ensure that our public beaches are welcoming and accessible for all our residents.” 

Since it was founded in 1986, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay has been at the forefront of creating opportunities for people to experience nature through free programs and events, regardless of race, language, income, and ability barriers. Their Better Beaches Grant program, which is in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), awards grants to organizations and individuals hosting free events in the summer on DCR’s public beaches. 

They currently have a multimedia exhibit at the Lynn Museum on display until May 23 and features “personal stories about how coastal climate change is affecting people and communities across Massachusetts,” according to the Lynn Museum’s website.   

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is also making a difference and is part of the Kings Steering Committee, which is currently discussing daily testing at Kings Beach, in collaboration with the Lynn Water and Sewer Commission. 

“After spending the past four decades ensuring Boston Harbor’s cleanliness and safety, we are looking forward to another summer connecting our community to the harbor, its islands, and the region’s public beaches,” Save the Harbor Executive Director Chris Mancini said. “Last summer, the Better Beaches Grant Program supported nearly 200 events that brought people of color, Queer people, people with disabilities, and people who don’t primarily speak English to the beaches.”