Honorees David Spira and Shirleyan (Shan) Price center with daughter Heather Holden Left and friend Joy Chen

Executive Director Steven Frank introducing “Spirit of Sailing” Honorees David Spira and wife, Shirleyan Price

Spirit of Sailing

Helping Children Find Their Way

Youth Summer Camp Fundraiser Raises $25,000 !

March 17, 2007 - St. Patrick’s Day found 150 Community Sailing supporters, volunteers and parents celebrating the 8th Annual Spirit of Sailing Gala Fundraiser. The theme for this fundraiser was “Helping Children Find Their Way”.  This event raised $25,000 and will be used to provide scholarships and tuition assistance for disadvantaged families with children and expand Community Sailing of Colorado’s summer junior program.

The fundraiser was held at Cableland, the former home of Bill Daniels, and the official residence of the Mayor of Denver. This landmark sits atop of the Hilltop neighborhood in Denver .

The evening entertainment began with a Woodwind Quintet; a group of talented youngsters from the Denver School of Arts provided a relaxing atmosphere for supporters to browse through items presented for the silent auction.

Sixty silent auction items were auctioned off to high bidders; popular items included a 7 day Virgin Island Sunsail Yacht Charter, an African Safari, a romantic weekend at the Cherry Creek Inn and a flag that once flew over the Colorado State Capitol.

Master of Ceremonies, weatherman Dave Aguilera of News4, opened up the evening program and thanked the crowd for their support of this great cause. After a few remarks about Cableland, the sailing community, and the lovely weather; he turned the microphone over to Executive Director Steven Frank, who presented the first annual “Spirit of Sailing Award” to local Real Estate Developer David Spira and wife Shirleyan Price for their quiet leadership, contribution and drive to see Community Sailing’s youth summer programs succeed. David Spira while thanking Community Sailing for the “Spirit of Sailing” award announced his support to build a boat house at Standley Lake for children to use as a classroom and community building. Dave  Aguilera then recognized two other distinguished guests, Rep. Jean Labuda, D-Denver and Karen Marriott, Olympic contender in windsurfing.

After the award acceptance and distinguished guests recognition, the night moved to the live auction hosted by Mrs. Cherry Creek, Christina Sacha , and Dave Aguilera. The guests gave generously as they bid against each other to benefit the kids. Snipe sailors Doug and Karen Swenson, long time DSA members were the high bidders for a Caribbean Bareboat Sunsail Yacht Charter.  The night ended with a little magic by Keir Royale and music by the Second Chance Jazz Quartet.

All in all the beautiful evening complemented this wonderful event.

During 2006, over 500 children attended Community Sailing’s programs.

 

Community Sailing’s  8^th annual gala fundraiser raised money to:

1. Offer more scholarships to children who can not afford to attend a summer camp.

2. Expand the program. Last summer 500 kids participated. Their goal is to see 600 youngsters participate during the summer of 2007.

3. Build the Community Sailing of Colorado Foundation that will ensure the future of Community Sailing's summer camps.

4. Acquire more sailboats and improve facilities which will enable the program to expand.

Community Sailing of Colorado, Ltd. (CSC) operates a summer sailing program and camp for boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 17. CSC hosts one-week learn to sail camps, racing camps, windsurfing camps and a summer-long drop-in sailing program that allows youngsters access to sailing after they learn how to sail. Camps are conducted on Standley Lake in Westminster and Cherry Creek Reservoir in Aurora . Youngsters learn basic sailing on Sunfish or Optimists. Youngsters earn advanced sailing privileges as they earn ratings. With each successive rating, junior sailors can progressively earn the privilege to sail more complex boats, learn racing, sail further from our sailing beach and help teach others to sail.

Since 1995 over 3,500 boys and girls have participated in CSC’s summer sailing programs.