About
Want to join the most fun and unforgettable experience in the St. Louis area? We are ready for you! This year the Gateway Dragon Boat Festival will be on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at Creve Coeur Lake. This festival is a community boat racing event that helps raise money for Operation Family Help, a program of Signature Healthcare Foundation that provides assistance to families in need of financial aid to cover healthcare costs.
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Operation Family Help
Operation Family Help provides financial assistance for needs not covered by health insurance. Families in crisis residing in Missouri or St. Louis and Kansas City Metropolitan Areas are referred by physicians working with these families. Operation Family Help is administered by the Board of Signature Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit, through an application process. Amounts awarded vary depending on the family situation and on the dollars available.
2025 Sponsors
Contact Beth Schlueter at bschlueter@signaturefoundation.org for information on becoming a sponsor
Panda Sponsors
Pearl Sponsors
Jade Sponsors
Teams
The standard crew of a contemporary dragon boat consists of twenty paddlers (who sit in pairs facing the front – or bow – of the boat), a drummer or caller (who sits at the bow facing the paddlers), and a sweep (who stands at the rear – or stern – of the boat).
The sweep, or steersperson, uses a long oar to steer the boat, while the paddlers provide its propulsion. The drummer may be considered the heartbeat of the dragon boat, and leads the crew throughout a race with the rhythmic beating of a drum to indicate the cadence of paddling strokes: the paddlers attempt to make their strokes in unison, as synchronous paddling produces greater acceleration and speed.
