Brendan Sailing Awarded $25,000 from Kathy and Jerry Wood Foundation & Brick Companies Foundation

Annapolis, MD – April 1, 2019 – The Brendan Sailing Program has been generously awarded $25,000 in new grant funding from two local Annapolis area organizations: The Kathryn and Jerry Wood Foundation and The Brick Companies Foundation.

The grants will allow the Brendan Sailing Program to continue its mission to build pathways for self-confidence and personal growth in children with learning differences through individually tailored experiential instruction in sailing. Brendan Sailing will use the funds to award additional scholarships for Brendan Sailing Program’s three base-programs in Annapolis, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Washington DC . “We are thrilled to have received these awards from foundations who see value in our efforts to build self-confidence and teach life skills to youth with learning differences through sailing. We pride ourselves on never turning away a student for financial reasons. Thanks to the generosity of these two supporters we can provide scholarships this season for youth throughout the region” said Executive Director Charlie Arms.

Registration is now open for Brendan Sailing’s summer programs. The after-school program hosted at DC Sail will run on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 4:00pm-6:00pm starting on April 23 and ending on June 6. The Annapolis Day Camp sessions take place at Annapolis Sailing School on June 17-28 and July 1-12. Fun camp activities include: sailing, beach exploration, swimming, friendships, watershed & US Sailing’s STEM program are all part of the Annapolis camp that runs Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm.

The program at St. Mary’s College of Maryland offers both Day and Overnight Camps July 17-26. Overnight students sleep in the residence halls on campus, take meals in the student dining center, and learn to sail at the James P. Muldoon River Center on the banks of the St. Mary’s River. In addition to sailing, campers experience other water activities such as swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, and canoeing. Through Brendan Sailing’s partnership with Spirit of America, students also have the option to learn powerboating and obtain their Maryland Safe Boating Certificate.

The Kathy and Jerry Wood Foundation: $20,000
Founded in 2006 through the wills of Jerry and Kathryn Wood, the Foundation’s focus is to aid and assist in charitable and educational activities for the moral, mental, intellectual, and physical development of American youth. The founders and former owners of Annapolis Sailing School, Brendan Sailing’s home base, The Wood’s were instrumental in the early success of the Brendan Sailing Program in Annapolis by giving Brendan a permanent home and volunteering their time and energy to the program. The Wood’s are honored annually at Brendan Sailing’s Annual Awards Brunch with the presentation of the Jerry and Kathryn M. Wood Outstanding Achievement Award which goes to the Brendan sailor who exemplifies hard work and dedication to the sport of sailing.

The Brick Companies Foundation: $5,000
Through its partnership with The Brick Companies, the Foundation focuses on its commitment to social responsibility and environmental leadership. CEO of The Brick Companies, Lex Birney, sits on the Board of Directors of Brendan Sailing and his father Arthur was a longtime contributor to the success of the Brendan Program. The Birney family is also remembered every year at the annual Brendan Awards Brunch with the presentation of the Arthur Birney Outstanding Achievement Award given the Brendan Camper who exemplifies outstanding leadership and achievement.

Brendan Sailing Program:
Since 1985 the Brendan Sailing Program has provided learn-to-sail camps catered to children and teens with learning differences. Founded by former President of US Sailing and current Brendan Sailing Chairman Jim Muldoon, Brendan Sailing’s mission is to build pathways for social confidence and personal growth in children with learning differences through individually tailored experiential instruction in sailing. Using the “Brendan Approach,” Brendan Sailing participants learn not only to sail through individual focus but gain a foundation of confidence and social skills. Since the program was conceived, more than 600 young people, ages 11 to 18, have been introduced to the joys of sailing, and, in the process, improved relationships with their peers and built self-esteem, confidence, and maturity. For more information on our programs, partners, or volunteer opportunities please contact Executive Director Charlie Arms at 707-246-0434 or by email at [email protected].​

​Laura Rossi (left) of Annapolis, MD, is presented the Arthur Birney Award for Outstanding Achievement at the 2018 Brendan Sailing annual awards banquet by The Brick Companies CEO, Lex Birney (middle) and Brendan Sailing Chairman, James Muldoon at the Inn at Chesapeake Bay Club on Sunday April 22, 2018. The award is given each year to the Brendan sailor who exemplifies outstanding leadership and achievement at the St. Mary’s College of Maryland overnight camp.

Contact Andrew Holden for more information, photos, and interviews with staff.
[email protected], 202-876-2180

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Press:

Annapolis Patch: https://patch.com/maryland/annapolis/brendan-sailing-awarded-25-000-scholarship-grant-funding

Capital Gazette: https://www.capitalgazette.com/community/cg-ugc-article-brendan-sailing-program-awarded-25000-from-2019-04-05-story.html