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Sailing

In Support of Sailing

By Beth Reilly

id you know that the “Yachting Capital of the World” We also support the City of Fort Lauderdale in their beginner
has a charitable/non-profit dedicated to teaching and sailing program. The sailing program provided 32 children
Dsupporting kids who want to sail? with a two week Learn to Sail Camp. These young sailors
qualify under the Community Eligibility Program which
Fourteen years ago, the founders of the Lauderdale Yacht Club
Sailing Foundation had an amazing idea to support our local means they receive free breakfast and lunch because of their
sailors. This support has now grown way beyond what they economic situation. We agree that ALL children should have
first envisioned, and our board, committees and volunteers the opportunity if they desire and to have all the benefits and
have grown as well as our mission. life skills that come with learning to sail.
The Sailing Foundation provides grants to sailing programs
At the Lauderdale Yacht Club Sailing Foundation (Sailing
Foundation), we believe the sport of sailing should be throughout South Florida that offer beginning sailing camps
accessible to all regardless of your ability to pay and because for kids who are disadvantaged and come from lower socio-
of the skills you learn such as independence, self-reliance, economic backgrounds. We support programs such as:
leadership, and confidence. The Sailing Foundation is a Gulfstream in Hollywood, Team Paradise in Miami, Indian
501c3 charitable organization founded in 2009. Since that River in Jensen Beach, and Shake a Leg in Miami. We help
time, the mission has grown to meet the needs of our junior provide children with physical, developmental, and economic
sailors and our community. challenges accessibility to sailing.
Nationally, the Sailing Foundation hosts the Gold Star Sailing
The Sailing Foundation has served more than 800 kids in
South Florida. We give scholarships and grants to young Program. June was our 3rd year of having the privilege of
sailors to help them afford coaching and training programs hosting 18 Gold Star Kids (13–18-year-olds) from all over
and increase their chances to compete in highly competitive the country. Gold Star Kids have lost a parent in the line of
national and international regattas. Year to date, we have military duty for our country. We provide the kids with a one-
provided $42,000 to young sailors from Lauderdale Yacht week, all-expenses-paid, unique summer camp here in Fort
Club and the community. Lauderdale. The Gold Star Kids get to spend time with others
who understand their situation. The Camp is a wonderful
Our commitment to children learning to sail has grown. Here relationship building and bonding experience through the
are additional initiatives we are now providing where our Yacht sport of sailing.
Club and community have come together to help children.
The Sailing Foundation is now being recognized as a more
Locally, we host an essay contest through Broward County robust and important community nonprofit resource beyond
Schools for 5th and 6th graders and offer students a summer the walls of our Yacht Club.
camp scholarship to learn to sail. Each summer, we give more
than 25 Broward County students a scholarship for camp.

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