2021 Annual Report Navigating Differences... Success Realized
Mission To build pathways for self-confidence and personal growth in children with Learning Differences...through individually tailored experiential instruction in sailing.
Values Individual Dignity Embracing Diversity Learning by Doing Thriving Together Compassion Fun Integrity
Summer Camps It was great to get back onto the water again after virtual programs in 2020. We held four weeks of Annapolis Day Camps, and a full St. Mary’s Day Camp session. Due to constraints with St. Mary’s College of MD around use of the dorm facilities, Residential Camp was not held. Twenty-four individual campers experienced our four weeks of Annapolis programs. Seven youth attended our Day Camp program at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Nearly half of all campers returned, with 35% of them returning two or more years.
31
42 %
35 %
Campers
Returning
Youth on
Served
Campers
Scholarship
427 Volunteer Hours
Brendan Approach Brendan Sailing has been building self-esteem and increasing self-confidence in youth with learning differences for over 35 years. We have developed proven methods over the years and are now offering these methods to others! Now, we have developed the Brendan Approach training to give sailing instructors the tools needed to improve their delivery of sailing curriculum. The half-day workshop is available virtually or in-person and includes classroom presentations, breakout sessions and attendee participation in problem solving and role playing. Instructors will receive a certificate of training upon completion.
The Brendan Approach development team made significant progress this past year. We worked with a consultant who aided in curriculum development and ran a beta program at Beaufort Sailing. These participants provided us with great feedback to continue to hone and develop the program. The remainder of the year has been focused on preparing the web based program which will be the primary delivery medium moving forward.
4
15
328
Classes
Instructors
Hours Spent on
Run
Trained
Development
35%
Staffing
Breakdown of Staff Hours
Labor Costs
563 Total Volunteer Hours
Financials
Income Individual Donations
$75,850
Grants
$42,000
Corporate/Foundation
$33,000
Program Fees
$19,750
PPP Loan Forgiveness
$16,382
Miscellaneous
$70
Total
$187,053
Expenses Development
$19,575
Marketing
$43,168
General & Admin
$92,792
Programs
$42,692
Total
$198,227
"Our daughter's technical sailing skills and confidence and self-esteem went through the roof! She started the session with no sailing experience and finished by taking her mom and dad out for a sail BY HERSELF. She had the skills to sail beautifully and was able to direct her parents what to do using clear and confident instructions...Her excitement going to camp each day was palpable and now she wants to go back next year to train as an assistant counselor!" - Parent of Brendan Sailor, 2021
Development
2021 Funding
2020 Funding
"In the Same Boat as Me" The story of Head Instructor Evan McCarthy by Meghan Cobourn On the surface, Evan McCarthy is your average young, talented sailor. With years of experience on Broadneck High School’s racing team and a US Sailing Level 2 Instructor certification under his belt, it would be easy to think that he was born in a catboat wearing a life jacket! Yet a peek behind the curtain reveals a different story: One of an individual with Learning Differences who discovered how the sport of sailing could change his life forever. As a child, Evan was diagnosed with ADHD. He was soon labeled an undisciplined problem child. Through therapy, he discovered that helping others gave him the confidence and pride he was seeking. Now was the time to find him an outlet for his energy and something that would build his self-confidence. Since his family were boaters, why not try sailing? His family came across Brendan Sailing, where Evan was first exposed to people who were in the “same boat” as him. Before Brendan, Evan was enrolled in a traditional public-school environment with instructional methods that often left these kids behind. That first summer marked a major change in his life: “It was one of the first times where I was in an environment of people just like me, and I felt like I fit in.” These new friends, the enthusiastic instructors, and an instructional approach that allowed him to learn and thrive, brought Evan back summer after summer. As his love for and skill in sailing grew, the Brendan instructors began placing him in boats with newer sailors. This soon sparked a passion for teaching sailing, and fueled Evan to accept a position as an instructor. “I finally got to pass those skills that I had worked really hard to develop on to new kids and see the happiness on 10 their faces when they finally grasp them,” reminisced Evan. “I got to recall how I felt the first time that they trusted me to be on a sailboat by myself, and that joy—I wanted to give that to those who had had similar experiences like me.”
Evan McCarthy at 10 years old in 2010 - his first year as a Brendan sailor
While his journey, which spanned five summers as a camper at Brendan Sailing, three summers as a counselor, and three summers as head instructor, was not always easy, Evan persevered and gained the tools to not just become a successful sailor, but to conquer every obstacle in his path. The confidence that Brendan built in Evan has been essential to managing what he calls “those big, overwhelming firsts.” Sailing successfully means managing a variety of stimuli; “You’ve got to consider the wind, the other boats, so many different things to think about at once. When I was at Brendan, I was really taught to take steps to problem-solve without getting overwhelmed by anxious thoughts or all that stimuli. Instead of becoming flustered, I can use the things I’ve learned and then I’m able to keep going and accomplish my goals.” Through his time at Brendan, Evan has grown tremendously and has made many contributions to the program. Spring 2022 he will graduate from Washington College with a dual major in Mathematics and Computer Science. A huge accomplishment for a “problem child with no discipline.” Brendan Sailing helped make that possible. To Evan, Brendan Sailing is synonymous with family. “There’s no better place to be than in the same boat as me!”
3
10
Development
Total Funds 2015 - 2021
"Brendan Sailing has provided our son with a unique adventure. The counselors and students are welcoming, accepting, and encouraging of each other; what a positive environment! We are amazed at how quickly he learned, and even more amazed at his confidence in his new sailing abilities! Thank you!" Parent of St. Mary’s Camper 2019
Development
Fundraising Statistics 27.5 %
38.6 %
52.3 %
Individual Donor
Donor
Foundation / Grant
Number Increase
Retention
Amount Increase
Fundraising Activities & Campaigns
Donors
$20,000 and Up James P. Muldoon The Kahlert Foundation Kathy & Jerry Wood Foundation
$10,000 to $19,999 The Brick Companies Foundation Joseph E. & Marjorie B. Jones Foundation
$5,000 to $9,999 Affluere Foundation Mary K. Bryant Trust Wendy Gagnon Gregory Foundation
$1,000 to $4,999 Swink Kluttz Family Foundation East Coast Sailboats Lawrence and Jane Breck Rick Hohlt Elizabeth Crabtree John Kelly City of Annapolis Julie Bell Lindsay Joanne Dorval Geoffrey Miles Rick Franke Roberta Wilson Gary Hague Annapolis Sailing School
Donors
$500 to $999 Peggy and Joseph Bracewell
Gregory Petry
Charitable Fund Rosanna Hamrick Nancy Merrill Laura Homick
Lochner Law Firm PC Randy Repass Molly Mahoney Matthews
$100 to $499 Charlie Arms David and Kathy Rossi Beth Berry Margo Sullivan Paul Bollinger C. Lee Tawney Jacqueline Dorval Margaret Thompson
Julie Gentile Amy Werblow Christine Grundmann Rebecca White Susanne Johnson Palma Wilson Judi McKay Gregory Urban
Up to $100 Amazon Smile Col. Paul R. and Leslie R. Quirion Anne Arms Claire Owens
Patricia Sebreney Veronica Boe Nan Spyker Elizebeth Frangos
Jennifer Ashwood Nancy Noyes Liz Baylis
Lynn Gerber Smith Debbie Gottlieb Wyatt Smith
Craig Prinski Matt Prisby Joe Bello Connie Li
Ashley Haines Dianne Sullivan Eric Peltosalo
Board of Directors EXECUTIVE MEMBERS Chairman, James P. Muldoon President, Joanne Dorval Secretary, Rick Franke Treasurer, Roberta Wilson
DIRECTORS Marc Apter Lex Birney Pat Ewing Linda Kessler Todd Lochner Molly Mahoney Jim Muldoon, Jr. Rick Nelson Amy Werblow
Sponsors & Partners
Brendan Sailing 1500 K Street NW Washington, DC 2005 www.brendansailing.org 443.995.6375 info@brendansailing.org
Navigating Differences... Success Realized