Annual Report 2009 2 from the executive director Mat Rosa our mission The mission of Piers Park Sailing Center is to provide Dear friends and supporters, recreational, educational, and personal growth When I am asked to describe Piers Park Sailing Center I am never at a loss for words. opportunities for individuals of all ages and abilities, If you begin to look at our mission statement we have set an impressive goal to through the exciting and high-challenge activity of introduce the world of sailing to everyone, especially those who never would sailing. otherwise be given the opportunity. All of our staff are rewarded by experiencing the success stories that happen Piers Park Sailing Center (PPSC), is a 501(c)3 everyday at Piers Park. To hear a group of teens who are in awe from seeing their non-profit community-based organization, established neighborhood for the first time from the water is quite a thrill. Sharing in the joy with as a complimentary asset to the redevelopment of someone who spends their days in a wheelchair, and is now in control of a boat and Boston Harbor’s underutilized urban waterfront. Piers sailing free, is truly remarkable. Park is a valuable resource that reconnects the The best way to describe our organization is Access and Impact. citizens of East Boston with their identity as a Access: Piers Park Sailing Center is one of a few public points for the public to waterfront community with a seafaring heritage. reconnecting the community experience one of Boston’s greatest resources, Boston Harbor. Providing this opportunity to people of all ages and abilities is what makes us a unique asset to this community. Impact: More than just sailing, we are providing a safe and enriching environment for our history the youth of our city to grow and flourish. For people with disabilities, the Prior to the development of Piers Park, East Boston had the empowerment to be achieved through sailing is like none other. For the community we least amount of dedicated green space of all the Boston offer a great way for people and families to connect with each other and the marine neighborhoods. Piers Park was designed, in cooperation with environment. local Governor-appointed community representatives and At Piers Park, we feel there is no better way to experience this world-class city than residents, to provide direct and immediate access to Boston under sail. Every year, more people are agreeing with us, which is why it is our goal to Harbor. One of the key components of the project was the continue expanding in 2010 to meet the increased demand for services. design of Piers Park Sailing Center. Piers Park has received an Adaptive Environments Award as well as an International We are driven by an impassioned staff full of energy and new ideas, excited to take Piers Park Sailing Center to the next level. I am proud of the accomplishments made Excellence on the Waterfront Award. this season and eager to share them in this Annual Report. Over the years, Piers Park Sailing Center has expanded Thank you for your continued interest in Piers Park Sailing Center. We look forward to considerably from a facility providing programs for building upon our success in the future, providing Access and Impact to the recreational boaters, to now serving an ever-widening communities we serve. spectrum of participants. Through our Outreach we touch the With gratitude for your support, lives of hundreds of at-risk youth, provide Empowerment for people living with disabilities and a source of Adventure for Mat Rosa our entire community. Mat Rosa Executive Director 3 4 outreach Community Served East Boston, better known as “Eastie,” is the primary future leader program community served by PPSC. Future Leaders are sailors that have Eastie is a low-income, been involved with the program for Our unique youth development program provides a dynamic several years, embodying the racially diverse educational experience in a fully-inclusive environment for youth of all abilities. characteristics of good citizenship, neighborhood. 84% of leadership and teamwork. Future incoming immigrants to the Leaders earn a stipend, while working city of Boston, reside in alongside PPSC senior staff to ensure Individual Youth Program Participants Eastie. each participant has a safe and enriching educational experience that 2008 Olympic sailing gold medalist Anna 2006 The U.S. Department of Justice builds confidence and serves as a strong resume builder. Tunnicliffe visits PPSC. Pictured with Future Harbor Explorers and the U.S. Census Bureau Leader Nicole Forina (15). 2007 classify East Boston as an extremely disadvantaged 2008 community. This is highlighted out of school time by such factors as the 2009 After School Sailing percent of single parent spring and fall sailing program families, the percent living below the poverty line and unemployment. East Boston Summer Youth Sailing has a Community Disadvantage Index rating that falls between 8 and 10. 0 100 200 300 400 500 This rating places Eastie as one of the most PPSC provides underserved youth with the skills, knowledge and experience disadvantaged communities harbor explorers necessary to become competent in the City of Boston. environmental education sailors and confident young people. In recognition of the need for additional out-of-school time programming for Once a hub of the maritime East Boston youth, PPSC led fall and spring after-school programs for 72 In partnership with and manufacturing trade, students in 2009. the marine today East Boston has only a advocacy tall ships in boston few industries remaining on its project bread organization, Save the Harbor/Save working waterfront. PPSC health & wellness education the Bay. In 2009, strives to encourage the Youth served are 163 youth awareness of this trade provided with free participated in this through its industry specific nutritious lunches and hands-on based programming. encouraged to make program that healthy lifestyle promotes PPSC also provides services choices and take part understanding and to the Boston neighborhoods in daily physical stewardship of local of South Boston, Dorchester, exercise. In 2009, ecosystems and an Over 300 local youth had the once in a lifetime opportunity to over 2000 free appreciation for the experience Sail Boston 2009 first hand aboard a traditional tall ship. Roslindale and the lunches were served. marine environment. neighboring cities of Chelsea, Lynn and Revere. 5 6 sailing is an activity that is beneficialadaptive and empowering for people with disabilities. Every program offered at PPSC is a fully-inclusive experience companion sailors for people of all ages and abilities. Our innovative companion sailor initiative provides able-bodied volunteers to sail alongside adaptive sailors. This innovative volunteer program partners volunteer PPSC Adaptive Sailing Enrollment members with adaptive sailors 50 who require support to sail. Not only does the program Of all youth participating at PPSC, 19% are living with a Adult provide adaptive sailors with physical, sensory or cognitive disability. In 2009 88% more additional opportunities to 40 sail, but it also creates a disabled youth particpated in our fully inclusive programs. Youth heightened awareness and understanding of the needs of the disabled in In the photo: A PPSC companion guides two disabled sailors. 30 the local community. 20 instruction empowerment PPSC provides a fully-funded Adaptive Learn-to-Sail program for adults, encouraging students to sail as independently as possible. In this 10 program, we have graduated paraplegics, quadriplegics, amputees, as well as individuals with disabling conditions resulting from various causes such as polio, strokes, and traumatic brain injury. Seven out of seven Piers Park 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 Adaptive Sailors achieved medals at this year’s mid level competition, the Clagett Regatta in Newport RI. photo: L to R – Johnathan Evans- Silver, Hugh Freund-Gold, sip and puff Charlie Croteau-Bronze, Mark Bos-Bronze & Maureen 2009 was a landmark season at Piers Park Sailing Center. After a year of McKinnon-Tucker-Silver. (Missing research, planning and execution PPSC unveiled its’ newest piece of from photo: Jim Donahue-Bronze PPSC benefits from the Adaptive Equipment. Through work in collaboration with an anonymous & Dennis Moran- Silver.) dedication of its donor and the Department of Conservation and Recreation, PPSC is Adaptive Sailing now one of the very few venues in the country offering Sip & Puff 300 technology. special event Number of Disabled Coordinator, Maureen The system is used at PPSC by quadriplegic sailors who can only move 250 Participants McKinnon-Tucker. their head, eyes and mouth. This state of the art technology is ideal for participation Maureen is the 2008 people who have limited or no motor capability. It enables them to be 200 This past season, we Beijing Paralympic in command of a sailboat, via a Sip & Puff or medical joystick interface. successfully collaborated 150 Gold-Medalist in sailing, This is an important victory for sailors at PPSC and further proves that with other disabled service and the first women to win disabled people can accomplish anything, given the right tools. organizations, offering In the words of one sailor using this system, "If you multiply that sense of 100 special sailing events to in her event. Maurenn is freedom a thousand times, that's how I feel. I leave behind my large groups of people 50 a true inspiration to the wheelchair, a team of carers and suddenly it's just me." with disabilities. disabled community. 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 7 8 community in the news... membership BOSTON HERALD (Front Page); May 10, 2009 Membership benefits extend beyond just sailing. About 1,200 low-income, minority and disabled children signed up for the free summer sailing program. Members prove to be a crucial aspect of Piers Park is home to the only fully handicapped-accessible dock in New England.