The Summer Youth Program at the Seafarers Foundation, Inc. is designed to save the lives of children through water safety. Located in the Seafarers Yacht Club at 301 Chester Ave, Annapolis, MD this year’s two-week camp is about to start. The camp is free, but the cost is significant.
They have the facility (with a beautiful pool). They have the volunteers. They have the expertise. They have the passion. But do they have the funding? The Annapolis Yacht Club Foundation is proud to welcome the Seafarers Foundation as our newest 501(c)(3) grantee. Unfortunately, their budgetary needs are higher than our budgetary resources. This is one more example of potential opportunities in our community that we will be able to more fully support once our Velocity Campaign goals have been realized.
“This contribution moves us closer to achieving our budget for the two-week Free Summer Youth Program which aims to equip local underserved children, ages 8 to 12 with essential water safety and recreational skills, as well as introduce them to career opportunities related to maritime activities”, said Major General Errol Schwartz, Seafarers Foundation Board Chairman.
At a recent visit to the Seafarers Yacht Club, Foundation officers walked us through the holistic and varied program that has been intentionally developed for children this age. From fishing, to sailing to yoga to chess, each day is planned purposefully and always includes water safety lessons. They have set the bar high with bus service to field trips, nourishing food, swimming diagnostics, and certification.
Even while they struggle to fully fund this year’s program, they dream of extending it to enroll more children and include more time to keep those water safety skills current.
Summer Youth Program founder and Foundation Treasurer Alice Mahan has been a sustaining leader of this 19-year program. Alice applied for the grant from us and enthusiastically shared their plans.
See below for a video from Alice Mahan with comment by Major General Schwartz.
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