Treasure Island Sailing Center Awarded $1,800 Grant from Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame

Aug. 2, 2010 - PRLog -- Treasure Island, CA - Treasure Island Sailing Center (TISC), a non-profit organization providing scholarship-based programs for underprivileged and adaptive youth in need, will purchase much-needed wetsuits for its youth programs this year thanks to an $1,800 grant award from the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.  The award comes just as TISC youth Summer Camp and classes are in full swing.

“We are so grateful to the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame for considering our vision and ours needs, the families and kids are excited about receiving support from a popular sports organization,” said Lacey Todd, operations manager at TISC. “Because of this grant, more kids will now have a wetsuit to help protect them in the waters. We’re a lot closer to our goal now of acquiring 50 new suits.”

The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame award is one grant TISC will receive from donors this year to provide scholarships and cover operational and equipment needs for summer and after-school activities.  With the support of businesses and organizations such as West Marine, Mellam Family Foundation, and agencies such as the Department of Boating and Waterways and Department of Children, Youth, and their Families, and other generous supporters, TISC is now about 50 percent of its goal of $160,000 in needed fundraising for the year.  

Through the generous support of such donors and grantors -- including those that donate each year -- TISC continues to provide opportunity to its many youth members, even during hard economic times when helping low-income families with at-risk children is ever more important.  Sailing provides a unique forum for children to learn the skills that will help them navigate life, during good times and bad.

These skills -- such as learning how work as a team, how to communicate, and how to apply decision-making -- impact children for a lifetime.

“For many children, learning the responsibilities of working as a crew provides a sense of purpose, direction, and new-found confidence. They also have a lot of fun,  and learn a bit of science in navigation of the tides and wind while sailing on the Bay,” added Todd.

People interested in donating to the wetsuit fund, or learning how they can provide other fundraising assistance, can visit the website:  http://www.tisailing.org/support/donation.cfm.

Companies interested in supporting TISC can participate in the nonprofit’s biggest fundraising event of the year held on October 1, BIG Team Regatta San Francisco 2010.  Efforts are underway right now to sign on corporate sponsoring teams.  What happens: Executives and volunteers from across the Bay Area will set sail on San Francisco Bay in performance sailboats in a race for pursuit of glory, bragging rights, and opportunity to raise money for youth and adaptive sailing programs. For more information, visit: http://www.gelcorp.com/clients/bigteamregattasf2010.html or contact Lacey Todd at 415-421-2225.

People can also become a fan of TISC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @TISailingCenter!

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About Treasure Island Sailing Center
The Treasure Island Sailing Center (TISC) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to improve the Bay Area community and the sport of sailing by providing access, facilities, and sailing instruction to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, skill levels, and physical abilities. To learn more about our youth, adult, and adaptive sailing programs, call (415) 421-2225 or visit http://www.tisailing.org.