Making Waves Together: CYC Foundation and KEEN Chicago Expand Sailing and Swimming Opportunities for Children with Disabilities

April 24, 2025

by Megan McNichols Mahon

Imagine the quiet confidence gained when a child steers a sailboat on Lake Michigan for the first time. Picture the sense of accomplishment in learning to float independently in a pool or the shared laughter during an exciting Seadog ride along Chicago’s shoreline. These meaningful experiences are awaiting participants of KEEN Chicago (Kids Enjoying Exercise Now) through an expanding partnership with the CYC Foundation. The Foundation is proud to join forces with KEEN Chicago to introduce children with physical and developmental disabilities to the simple joys and lasting benefits of time spent on and in the water. 

“Through adaptive sailing camps, tailored swim instruction and memorable waterfront adventures, we hope to make Lake Michigan and the water more accessible to Chicagoland kids with disabilities,” said Francesca Sigmond, CYC Foundation Program Manager.

KEEN Chicago is dedicated to giving children with physical and developmental disabilities access to safe, supportive sports spaces. Last year, the organization introduced 175 children to activities from yoga to bowling to soccer. Sailing was added to the list of Camp KEEN options for the first time last summer through a Foundation-sponsored collaboration with the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation. Eight children, each paired with a parent, experienced the thrill of sailing on Lake Michigan aboard specially designed keelboats at the Judd Goldman Sailing Center in Burnham Harbor. 

“The boats are built with accessibility and safety in mind, and the Judd Goldman staff are experts at working with children who have physical or developmental disabilities,” Sigmond said. Building on the success of last year’s program, the CYC Foundation will sponsor additional sailing camps for KEEN Chicago participants this summer. 

“We’re excited to expand the program and give more of our athletes the chance to experience sailing on Lake Michigan,” said Laura Fillenwarth, KEEN Chicago Executive Director. “For most of our kids, this was their first time on a sailboat which can naturally create anxiety, especially for children with disabilities. The beauty of this new partnership is that they get to try something new in a supportive setting; they come with KEEN Chicago––a group they trust that understands their unique needs––and they benefit from the Judd Goldman Sailing Center’s expertise and specially-adapted boats. It’s a great way for our athletes to comfortably discover the joy of sailing.”

In addition to the sailing camps, the Foundation is the first presenting sponsor of KEEN’s adaptive swim program and will also underwrite a speedboat ride for up to 50 KEEN participants and their families on Chicago’s Seadog leaving from Navy Pier.  

KEEN’s goal is to serve 70 children through the swim program this year, Fillenwarth said. Instruction takes place at two pools, the University of Illinois-Chicago Sports and Fitness Center and the YMCA in Evanston. 

“In any KEEN program, there’s a wide range of abilities and needs,” Fillenwarth said. “Some children are initially hesitant to even get in the water and others are excited but don’t know how to swim. We focus on individualized instruction––working one-on-one with each child for 10-minute sessions, since group instruction is difficult with such varied skills and needs. We’re so grateful for the Foundation’s support that’s allowing us to offer this individualized instruction to more children,” she said. 

The Seadog speedboat ride will be a new summer offering for KEEN Chicago participants in July. “For a lot of families, not only is cost a barrier to doing something like this but there’s also an emotional component of trying to access spaces but being consistently isolated within those spaces because you have a child who doesn’t act or look like other children their age,” Fillenwarth said. “But if you're supported and with other families who understand your situation, where you’ll be welcomed and accepted, I think that’s a meaningful experience for our families and I’m excited about that,” she said.

CYC Foundation Executive Director Maggie Shea said the Foundation is thrilled to expand the partnership with KEEN and introduce more children with disabilities to Lake Michigan and the joys of being in and on the water. “Our hope is that the swimming program and Seadog ride create a comfort and familiarity with the water and that the sailing component is a fun adventure where the kids experience something unique that they might not have thought they could do,” Shea said. “Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’re able to support experiences that are both exciting and empowering for children with disabilities.”