VermontBiz The Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center is proud to announce a transformational $500,000 endowment gift from the Courtney and Victoria Buffum Family Foundation. The permanent endowment will provide lasting support for the Community Sailing Center’s Adaptive Sailing Program and Diversity Access Initiative, ensuring that sailing remains accessible to individuals of all abilities and backgrounds for generations to come.
Income generated from the endowment will help provide scholarships, adaptive equipment, instructor training, and expanded outreach to communities that have historically faced barriers to participating in sailing and waterfront recreation.
“This transformational gift serves as the foundation of our journey toward opening the door to Lake Champlain for everyone in our community,” said Owen Milne, Executive Director of the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center. “The Buffum Family Foundation has created a lasting legacy that will allow us to reach more participants, remove financial and physical barriers, and ensure our waterfront remains welcoming and accessible to all.”
The Community Sailing Center’s Adaptive Sailing Program has become one of Burlington’s premier opportunities for individuals with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities to experience sailing through specialized equipment and highly trained instructors. The Diversity Access Initiative works to remove economic, cultural, and systemic barriers by providing scholarships, transportation assistance, partnerships with community organizations, and programming designed to introduce sailing to underserved youth and families.
“The Courtney and Victoria Buffum Family Foundation believes that access to the outdoors and opportunities for personal growth should be available to everyone,” said a representative of the Foundation. “The Community Sailing Center has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to inclusion, and we are honored to help ensure these important programs continue to grow and serve our community well into the future.”
Founded in 1994, the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center serves thousands of participants annually through youth sailing camps, school partnerships, adult instruction, racing programs, adaptive sailing, community outreach, and waterfront education. As demand for accessible programming continues to grow, the organization remains committed to expanding opportunities that connect more people with Lake Champlain.
For more information about the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, its Adaptive Sailing Program, or opportunities to support its mission, visit: communitysailingcenter.org.
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