From left are Nils Johnsen, Nor-Tech; Connie Ramos-Williams, CONRIC pr + marketing; Trond Schou, Nor-Tech; Hendrick Margard, Nor-Tech; and Cindi Trombley, Nor-Tech. PHOTO PROVIDED

A Cape Coral-based boat manufacturer raised $80,000 during its 30th anniversary gala a few months ago, which was donated to four local charities.

“It makes me feel good,” Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats co-founder Trond Schou said of donating that amount back to the community. “Cape Coral and this area has been good to us. We have been here 30 years. Started it as a very small factory and now we have over 200 people working for us.”

Schou and Nils Johnsen ran around boatyards in Norway in the 1970s, obsessed with sports cars and boats. Fast forward to 28 years ago, the first Nor-Tech powerboat hit the Gulf of Mexico with only two company employees, Schou and Johnsen. The two can still be found in the production room working on boats and designs.

Chief Operations Officer Henrik Margard said they raised $80,000 during their 30th anniversary gala that took place on April 30 of this year.

“It was a combination of donations, silent auction items and live auction items. We had approximately 250 people in attendance at the Westin in Cape Coral,” he said. “The gala event blew all of our hopes and expectations out of the water. It shows how good of dealers, customers, vendors and friends we have. Usually when we ask for things people step up in a big way. The proof is in the pudding of being able to hand out that much to local charities.”

The money raised was donated to the Tommy Bohannon Foundation, Southeastern Guide Dogs, Ronald McDonald House of Southwest Florida and Blessings in a Backpack.

“The last few years we have donated on a yearly basis. We have chosen different ones, but we found that these four charities kind of fit what we like — children that need help,” Margard said.

Schou said although all the charities do great work, Blessings in a Backpack is his personal favorite.

In addition to raising funds during their gala, Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats also donated food to the Cape Coral Caring Center last Thanksgiving thanks to all of its dealers contributing pounds of food. During Christmas, the business also participates in the Salvation Army Angel Program by picking 100 or so angels and purchasing presents for those angels.

Nor-Tech also stepped up to help the local community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Margard said they made more than 1,000 masks that they gave to local hospitals. The company also had good connections in purchasing N-95 masks.

“We donated close to 15,000 masks including the ones we made in house,” he said.

The giving did not stop there, as they also sewed one-time gowns for nurses and doctors out of material and patterns they provided.

“The last two years, especially 2020, has been phenomenal for us business-wise. We were obviously very busy, (but we wanted to) ensure that we were not forgetting our local communities and needs that were there. We didn’t solve all the problems, but we stepped up and contributed as much as we could,” Margard said.