2023 Annual Report

Changing Lives One Sail at a Time

BOARD OF DIRECTORS / STAFF

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jim Nolan, Chair

Beth Rossman, Vice Chair/Secretary

Will Crump, Treasurer

David Hankey Immediate Past Chair

Jonathan Adams

Arthur “Jib” Edwards

Shelly Ford

Dr. Jonathan Forsberg

Sandy Grosvenor

Steve Ritterbush

Donald Santa

STAFF

Paul “Bo” Bollinger Jr. President & CEO

Rebecca Gonser Vice President of Development

Matt Schaaf Director of Operations

Shannon Rohrer Manager of Programs

Providing the therapeutic benefits of learning to sail for people with disabilities, recovering warriors, and youth from underserved communities.

VISION

To create therapeutic recreational activities designed to promote healing and improve the quality of life for individuals facing disabilities, youth from underserved communities, and recovering warriors. Our programs include sailing, fishing, boating, radio-controlled sailing, therapeutic music, art, and yoga, all guided by trained volunteers and professionals who ensure participants have a safe and fulfilling experience.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

In 2023, CRAB partnered with 38 community support organizations and delivered 87 sailing and boating events, including CRAB’s powerboat programs on CRAB’s new Gemini Freestyle power catamaran. Over 1,200 guests (61% with a disability) were provided the thrill and freedom of learning to sail or boat on Chesapeake Bay. The programs and partnerships continue to grow at the Adaptive Boating Center!

PERSONAL IMPACT

More than 20 percent of Maryland adults have identified themselves as having one or more disabilities. CRAB guests are encouraged to learn and focus on their abilities while sailing; and when they leave the dock they are happier and more fulfilled members of our community.

Guest Judy Kulawiak of Montgomery County Stroke Group commented, “Everything about our sail was perfect. I would not change anything. Getting on and off the boat was easy, and all my worries melted away. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

THE MOST MEMORABLE YEAR IN CRAB HISTORY

Every year since becoming CRAB’s Executive Director in 2016, I find it rewarding to contemplate how much we have accomplished in the past year while fondly reminiscing about the smiles we brought to our guest’s faces. In this case the “we” is the CRAB Board of Directors, hardworking Staff, and dedicated volunteers who have given their time and effort to make the organization the very best in the country.

The planning, design, construction, and opening of the $6.2M CRAB Annapolis Adaptive Boating Center over the past six and a half years could be considered overwhelming, even a miracle, for a small nonprofit, but again it was the “we” that made it happen. This time it includes the State of Maryland, Anne Arundel County, the City of Annapolis, and most importantly the generous supporters of CRAB. Fortunately, the list is far too long to list in this letter.

Looking to the future and successfully growing CRAB’s mission, there will be many more opportunities to introduce new guests and volunteers into the CRAB family with the start of radio-controlled sailboat racing and fishing; plus, shoreside programs involving music and art therapy, yoga for amputees and paralyzed guests, movies on the lawn for children, and so much more.

In closing, when “we” designed a 100% accessible and sustainable home for CRAB we wanted it to look beautiful for our guests. There is no reason something accessible has to look utilitarian. I make this point because of the many wonderful comments we hear from CRAB guests and volunteers, “This place is beautiful,” is by far the most common. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, we are happy to behold you here at the CRAB Adaptive Boating Center for many decades to come.

We wish everyone an exciting and rewarding experience with CRAB at the Adaptive Boating Center and on Chesapeake Bay.

Paul “Bo” Bollinger Jr President & CEO

CRAB achieved a remarkable milestone in 2023 by making a successful transition from Sandy Point State Park after 32 years to the new Annapolis Adaptive Boating Center (ABC). Six years of planning, design, permitting, and construction resulted in the creation of the premier Adaptive Boating Center in the country. Metaphorically speaking, the ABC is the blueaccessible parking sign on Chesapeake Bay for people who would not otherwise have access.

Guest, Tyler Latvala, said, “The volunteers, staff, and programs are absolutely amazing. Everyone was welcoming and helpful. This is obviously something a lot of people put a significant amount of time and work into, and it shows.”

The ABC Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony, which took place on May 2, 2023, included many community leaders,

donors, and stakeholders. Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman proudly stated, “I salute the work that has been done here. This project is setting an example for the state and nonprofits across the country by building a facility and running a program that is all about inclusivity and resilience. This project will help ensure that all Marylanders reach their full potential.”

Since the ABC’s grand opening, CRAB has been visited by adaptive sailing programs from across the country and they have all been impressed and energized bu the facility and operations. The opportunity to expand and enhance on-water and on-land therapeutic programming for guests is nearly limitless. Just as CRAB Founder Don Backe was fond of sayingabout sailing at CRAB, “No limits.”

Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman speaking; Maryland Secretary of Disabilities Carol Beatty, Maryland Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Wood, and Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy VADM Sean Buck; Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Annapolis Adaptive Boating Center.

CRAB’s commitment to sustainability and protecting our natural resources for future generations was incorporated into the design and construction from the very beginning. The ABC features roof-mounted solar panels donated, engineered, installed, and managed by New Energy Equity’s charitable giving arm – the Lift as We Climb Foundation.

The solar panels are designed with a capacity of 25kW, producing an estimated 33 megawatt-hours of electricity – enough to fully power the entire new boating center for the next 25 years. The parking lot has two

The Adaptive Boating Center showcases its top-ofthe-line solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations.

Electric Vehicle charging stations for four vehicles. The property has two bio-retention ponds to capture and filter water before entering Back Creek. Over 620 trees, shrubs, bushes, and grasses were planted, with five mature trees protected, to create a natural filter on the property.

CRAB also has taken steps to reduce paper waste by moving its guest feedback system online. A ban on single-use plastic water bottles was implemented with reusable water bottles generously provided by the Rotary Club of Annapolis and refills from two convenient bottle refill stations.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS VOLUNTEERS

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

AACO Police

ARC of the Chesapeake

ARC of Southern Maryland

Arundel Lodge

Bay Village

BayWoods of Annapolis

Bello Machre

Bennett Institute

Boundless Edventures

Boys & Girls Club Center of Help Central Special School

Chesterwye

City of Annapolis Police

DC VA Medical Center

Emerge

Family Service Foundation

Ginger Cove

Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies

Vets

Impossible Dream

Kennedy Krieger

Kids In Action

Langton Green

Living Sans Frontiers

Maryland School for the Blind

Montgomery County Stroke Group

Medstar National Rehabilitation Center Opportunity Builders, Inc.

Pursuit Adaptive Sports

Richcroft

Rockville Amputee Group

Spring Dell

US Access Board

Walter Reed & Fort Belvoir

Wilderness Kids

Alexandria Wounded Warrior Project

VOLUNTEERS

Beth Acton

Jonathan Adams

Kathy Anderson

Teresa Anzalone

Amity Arora

Sam Baca

Steven Bardelman

Jill Bennett

Mark Bertacchi

Mary Pat Bertacchi

Ed Black

Liz Bollinger

Joyce Bolton

Craig Braverman

Todd Breese

Ange Brock

Mitch Buchman

John Burns

Janice Cannon

David Cantor

John Cantrick

Christopher Carbery

Mark Chapin

Donna Clapp

Christine Collins

Pamela Corwin

Micky Coughlin

Jill Critcher

Will Crump

William Dick

Michelle Dina

Justin Disborough

Jason Duncan

Dennis Dunn

Allie Eberhardt

Jib Edwards

John Enderle

Clotilde Enel Rehel

David Enos

Bill Erickson

Denise Ertel

Bob Esposti

Doug Fineberg

Nancy Fineberg

Greg Flanigan

Willem Folkerts

George C. Frank Jr.

Kevin Garvey

Chris Gildea

Aaron Goldmann

Jack Gonser

Ben Gonser

JT Gonser

Sloane Gonser

Janet Gonski

Keith Goode

Ed Gray

Linda Gray

Peggy Greenwell

Susan Guterl

Laura Gwinn

Daryl Haegley

Karen Hailine

Dillon Hale

Jeff Halpern

Larry Hand

Amy Harris

Nina Harris

Christopher Heffernan

Jacquie Hogan

Cynthia Hooper

Michael Horton

Mike Huddleston

Bob Huebner

Cindy Huffaker

Roseanne Jacuzzi

Anne Kaiser

Paul Kaladas

Mickey Kamfjord

Andy Katz

John Kelley

Jaime Kiley

Tad Klopic

Shelly Kosisky

David Krajewski

Cynthia Krewson

Mike Kuiper

Joel McCord

Marlys McDevitt

Mary Ellen McMillin

Radamaz Mendoza

Grazia Mieren

June Misner

Tim Mooney

Ed Morgan

Bob Morrow

Michael Murray

Pete Nelson

Holly O’Hare

Phil Ourisson

Ed Paglee

Paul Perdue

Jeff Poehler

Gerry Puig

Sheila Rowny

Dona RudderowSturn

Rich Saad

Ava Sale

Vicki Saporta

Steven Sarnowski

Art Savage

Leo Scanlon

Maude Lawrence

Carol Lazzaro

Henry Lazzaro

Kelly Leuschner/ Patterson

Bill Levatino

Craig Ligibel

Bob Logan

Stephen Lord

Clent Lowe

Martin Lutsky

Margie Magill

Michael Manuzak

John Maxwell

Susan Reed

Sarah Reihl

Marie Richardson

Danny Rick

Ed Riehl

Nancy Riker

Alex Ritterbush

Lyn Rockhill

John Rogers

Chris Rohrer

Susan Rosenfeld

Beth Rossman

Peter Rowny

Catherine Schaaf

Anna Scott

Skip Shipman

Corinne Smith

Eileen Smith

Jordan Smith

Michael Sommer

John Straus

Ellen Sweeney

Carol Tabak

Francesca

Thompson

Paul Van Cleve

Gwyn Vernon

Skip Wallace

Arnold Wallenstein

Barbara Wallenstein

Trey Warman

Cathy Waters

Dave Watson

Richard Wehrmann

Ken Weise

Jeff West

Dick White

Beau Whitney

Suzanne Whitney

Laura Wiegmann

Andy Wood

Mary Wood

Michele Woolbert

Nancy Wright

Mike Zapf

Ton Zwaard

CRAB FLEET DIRECTORS

Jim Barnes

Dan Flagler

Walt Laird

Pete McDevitt

George Pappas

Dan Pendergast

Tom Spitzer

Glenn Sutton

Tarrant H. Lomax, Esq., P.C.

Executive Community Support

Bradley Foundation Anonymous Foundation

Thomas

On August 19, 2023, over 650 sailors and supporters gathered together to celebrate with CRAB at the 2023 CRAB Cup. The annual event was a huge success as 88 sailboats and seven powerboats competed in thrilling pursuit and poker-run racing

The weather was perfect for the first-ever Koons Ford Mobility and Braun Abilitysponsored spectator cruise for CRAB Guests and their families. They had front row seats at the marks for watching the pursuit racing.

Mark your calendars for August 17, 2024, and the 18th Annual CRAB Cup at the Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis, MD. This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating, and it’s all about advocating for equal access to the Chesapeake Bay for everyone. With over 650 friends and neighbors coming together, it’s sure to be a great time for all!

Starting in 2024, CRAB introduced seven new programs. Guests can now participate in adaptive fishing, radio-controlled sailing, adaptive yoga, therapeutic music, art therapy, movies on the lawn, and monthly military days during the sailing season. We look forward to seeing you soon!

ABC RENTALS

HOST YOUR NEXT EVENT AT THE ADAPTIVE BOATING CENTER!

Are you looking for a stunning waterfront venue for your upcoming event? The Adaptive Boating Center offers the perfect location with its 1400-square-foot Don Backe Learning Center and Arthur Birney Pavilion. Whether it’s a wedding, bridal shower, baby shower, birthday, or anniversary, the ABC will exceed your expectations. The unparalleled views and sunsets make it one of the most sought-after venues in Annapolis.

ADAPTIVE BOATING CENTER INCOME

– 2023 ADAPTIVE BOATING CENTER FINANCIALS

3,912 VOLUNTEER HOURS

1,004 DONORS

85 SAILING/ BOATING EVENTS

1,240 GUESTS SERVED

172 VOLUNTEERS

7 MONTHS OF SAILING

34 PARTNERS

42 SPONSORS

297 PROGRAM HOURS