2016 was a remarkable year in Chicago. Against the backdrop of the Cubs march to winning the World Series, Jen and George met while delivering their friend's T-10. At the time, neither knew this meeting would change their lives forever. While many never thought it would happen, like the Cubs winning the Series, eight years later they will finally tie the knot. They can still be found most days on the water either racing or participating in Race Committee, but both look forward to going home to their adorable Westie, Cuddy. Jen and George are incredibly happy knowing in each other they have found their safe harbor and anchor in the storm.
Help the happy couple celebrate their upcoming nuptials by supporting the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation, the mission of which is “to bring the joys and benefits of boating to all, with primary focus on youth
from underrepresented communities.”
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What the Foundation mission means in practice is that hundreds of youth across Chicagoland benefit from maritime and boating opportunities to learn about sailing, water safety, Great Lakes ecology, teamwork, leadership, and more. Programs include:

• Tall Ship STEM Cruises: half-day cruises aboard the 77-foot gaff-rigged tall ship Inland Seas to learn about sailing and ecology; nearly 200 youth from six community organizations across Chicagoland participate.

• Adventure Boating Camp: The Foundation hosted five week-long Adventure Boating Camps this summer; kids from five different community organizations learned to sail the Club’s Sonars, engaged in paddle boarding and kayaking, practiced swimming, and explored Belmont Harbor.

• Community Sailing at Monroe: In 2024 we expanded the Foundation’s sailing education to Monroe, with six sessions in keelboats introducing more than 70 kids from four different community organizations to sailing.

• Judd’s Sailing Camp: sponsored by the Foundation in partnership with the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, brought children with physical disabilities ages 8-14 to the Judd Goldman Sailing Center in Burnham Harbor weekly for eight sessions of on-the-water instruction on specially-designed keelboats.

• Lead HER Ship: For 15 years, the Foundation has provided leadership training via a five-day cruise on Lake Michigan aboard the tall ship Inland Seas for nine young women ages 14-18. The cruises provide hands-on experiential learning and leadership training; in 2023 we were able to double the number of cruises to two, with a total of 18 young women.

• Swim Lessons: The Foundation offers grants to community organizations to pay for the children they serve to learn this critical life skill. In 2023, we taught 120 kids to swim; this grew to 357 in 2024!

• The Competition Fund: Enables the CYC Foundation to award grants to support applicants’ training for and participation in prestigious national and international sailing competitions, such as the Olympics, inter-club invitational events that are nationally recognized.

• The Sea Scouts: CYC is home to the oldest Sea Scout Ship in the nation (a “ship” is analogous to a “troop” on land). Scouts learn navigation, seamanship, and teamwork; all supported by the CYC Foundation.