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Mark Your Calendars!
Mark Your Calendars!
The 2026 Giving Challenge runs from noon April 15th to noon April 16th. During that time, donations of $25 and up are matched one-for-one by The Patterson Foundation up to $100. It's a great way to double your impact and support the development of confidence, character, and community in our youth.
Our goal this year is $70,000, which will go to modernizing our basic sailing training fleet, funding robust financial aid for families in need, and recovering from losses due to hurricanes and the bankruptcy of our payment processor. While ambitious, we believe this goal is achievable if we work together to make connections with our families, friends, and associates.
Our Giving Challenge planning committee, led by Craig Borton, will be sending out more details on how you can help us make the most of this amazing opportunity. Stay tuned!
How You Can Help Now
How You Can Help Now
Start talking with family, friends, and associates about ESA and the Giving Challenge
Pledge to donate using this link.
Share any ideas or feedback you have at info@englewoodsailing.org or (941) 681-8190
Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok (links at the bottom of the page)
Our Message to the Community
Our Message to the Community
An important aspect to our Giving Challenge effort is letting people know who we are and why we're so passionate about making sailing accessible to everyone in our community. To that end, we've crafted a compelling message:
Sailing builds confidence, character and community. Englewood Sailing Association is committed to the positive development of young people through sailing. We make sailing affordable and accessible to our community.
We’re a fully volunteer-operated, non-profit organization established in 2002. We teach small boat sailing to Englewood area youth and adults in a safe, fun and educational waterfront. We offer youth summer camps, fall and spring youth sailing training, and adult learn-to-sail classes throughout the year. Over 125 students each year learn a sport that builds confidence, character, and community in a way that respects our vital maritime environment.
We’ve seen over 23 years of teaching children that sailing isn’t just about moving a boat. Nature throws all kinds of challenges at you (too much wind, not enough wind, rain, etc.) and kids learn that although you can't choose the circumstances, you can choose how you react to them. By learning to sail by themselves, kids discover that they are intelligent, capable and independent. By teaching and learning with others, kids learn communication, leadership, and teamwork. These are the most valuable lessons of all. Many students who struggled academically before the program gain the focus and confidence they need to succeed.
We have a fleet of 37 small sailboats and 4 motorized safety boats. We teach sailing on Lemon Bay at Indian Mound Park in Englewood.
Because we’re all volunteers, we’re able to keep prices low (e.g. $250 for our five-day summer camps). We offer financial aid to families for whom this is a barrier, enabling children from all walks of life in our community to participate and benefit from the life skills that learning to sail provides.
The wind is free but harnessing it is not. You can help us continue to build confidence, character, and community with your generous donation. It helps us provide financial aid, maintain our fleet, and expand our offerings to even more members of our community. Thanks in advance for your support.
Feel free to use this message as you talk to your family, friends, and associates about ESA and the Giving Challenge!
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