Owner of Puddle Pirate, Don Folino, to Serve as Keynote Speaker at Southern New Jersey Coast Guard Ball

Cape May, NJ — April 2026 — U.S. Coast Guard Reserve veteran, entrepreneur, and owner of Puddle Pirate Co., Don, will serve as the keynote speaker at the Southern New Jersey Coast Guard Ball this April in Cape May, New Jersey.

Hosted by the Cape May Community Foundation, the annual Southern New Jersey Coast Guard Ball brings together active-duty members, reservists, veterans, families, and supporters to celebrate the service, heritage, and enduring mission of the United States Coast Guard.

Cape May holds special meaning within the Coast Guard community as home to United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May — the service’s only enlisted accession point, where generations of Coasties begin their journey.

Don's connection to the Coast Guard runs deep. Raised in a Coast Guard family, his father served as a Lieutenant and his uncle retired after 30 years of aviation service as a Commander. Continuing that legacy, Don served seven years in the Coast Guard Reserve as a Boatswain’s Mate assigned to Port Security Unit 309, deploying in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Following his military service, Don continued his commitment to service as a Platoon Leader with The Mission Continues, leading veterans in community impact initiatives. 

He is also the owner of Puddle Pirate, a Coast Guard lifestyle brand dedicated to celebrating Coast Guard heritage while giving back to the community. Under his leadership, the brand has supported organizations including Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, the Coast Guard Foundation, Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Association, and the Aviation Workout to Remember.

“It’s an incredible honor to be invited to speak at the Southern New Jersey Coast Guard Ball,” said Don. “The Coast Guard shaped who I am — as a leader, as a business owner, and as a husband and father. To stand in Cape May and speak to fellow Coasties is something I don’t take lightly.”

The Southern New Jersey Coast Guard Ball will be held in April 2026 in Cape May, New Jersey.

For those local to the area who are interested in attending or learning more about the event, additional information can be found here:
👉 https://coastguardcommunity.org/events/southern-new-jersey-coast-guard-ball/

Semper Paratus.