Milwaukee Community Sailing Center

Campaign for Today's Youth & Tomorrow's LeaderSHIP

Since its beginning, the city of Milwaukee visionary community leaders have created and nurtured public places and programs to help create rich and productive lives for its residents. Milwaukee’s connection to its grand natural resource, Lake Michigan, is perhaps its most vital public place. Each year the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center (MCSC) cements this connection in the most direct and intimate way for thousands of at-risk urban teenagers and children and adults with disabilities, and for Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin residents who appreciate the lake, but can’t easily reach it.

Lake Michigan is the sixth largest freshwater lake in the world. Yet, there are at-risk urban teenagers and children and adults with disabilities who have never walked along Lake Michigan’s shores, nor taken advantage of the lessons this mighty Michi Gami can teach.

Sailing and Lake Michigan experiences are often part of the summer of children from more comfortable backgrounds, however our outreach programs are aimed at urban, working class and minority youth to help close the socio-economic gap. Much of MCSC’s purpose is to engage the lives of children ages 8-17 years old in unique learning experiences through innovative programs that build character and promote a healthy spirit, mind and body.

MCSC outreach programs have been largely funded by our support network dues and special events. Interested, committed southeastern Wisconsin sailors have helped MCSC for nearly 30 years. Operating from a facility with less than 900 square feet, without indoor plumbing, the MCSC has provided more than 18,000 of Milwaukee's children as well as children and adults with disabilities, with basic sailing experiences. In 2007, MCSC provided more than 2,200 at-risk urban teenagers and children and adults with disabilities a sailing experience.

MCSC's support network members have donated more than 70,000 volunteer hours, (thousands this year alone), provided a fleet of more than 80 boats -- 61 of which are used constantly -- and helped disadvantaged children, and children and adults with disabilities learn valuable lessons of independence, motivation, teamwork and individual achievement.

Today, for many inner city and disadvantaged youngsters, sports are the social glue that provides a shared sense of belonging or common purpose. Participation in sports also creates a dense network of friends, family and acquaintances. Sailing teaches valuable life lessons and provides a sense of ownership in Milwaukee's most notable natural resource.

Learning to sail builds self-esteem (it's not easy).
Sailing is teamwork and individual achievement.
Sailing can motivate children to achieve their goals.
Sailing teaches children about the marine resources of their community.
Sailing teaches an awareness of safety.
Sailing can be a lifelong pleasure -- for everyone.

Now we need your help.

Because of our severe space limitations, during the past several years MCSC has been unable to provide its services to thousands of at-risk, disadvantaged children, and children and adults with disabilities.

MCSC must build a new building. The building is essential to expand the MCSC outreach mission and to maintain its fleet of much used boats. If the weather is inclement, indoor classes are cancelled as the cramped facility can accommodate just 12 students at a time. During the winter months the fleet is maintained, repaired and renovated, however, the maintenance garage doesn't have adequate ventilation for fiberglass repair and painting, and can handle only one boat under cover at a time.
The new facility will include:

A new building to house classrooms, administrative offices and a community room
3 Classrooms to service six times more students
A Community Room for MCSC Events as well as rentals
Staff Offices & Reception Area
Renovation of the existing maintenance garage to triple the repair capacity
Conversion of the present administrative building into a multi-purpose storage facility

MCSC can do all of this for under $3 million, with much of that figure already raised it’s time to get on the boat to completion. All donations of $5,000 or more will be permanently recognized in the new facility’s Wall of Appreciation.

Don’t miss out. Join The Campaign for Today’s Youth & Tomorrow’s LeaderSHIP.

To be a part of the Campaign for Today's Youth & Tomorrow's LeaderSHIP, or for more information please call Barbara J. Velez, MCSC Development Director, 414-277-9094, or email here at barbara@sailingcenter.org