Our mission
The Erie Yacht Club Foundation was established in 2009 to support philanthropic maritime-related programs for the benefit of the Erie community. The Erie Yacht Club Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) corporation with an independent Board of Directors.
We strive to enhance the Erie community by advancing maritime education, promoting youth and intercollegiate sailing competition, and expanding opportunities in boating.
Our impact on the community
Better educational facilities
The Rickloff Community Boathouse, built by the Foundation in 2014, is a state-of-the-art facility used by the Reyburn Sailing School and available to the community for maritime educational activities, we’ve improved the facilities and curriculum used to teach youth and adults how to sail.
Improved curriculum
A grant allowed the Reyburn Sailing School to hire a consultant to develop a more comprehensive curriculum, improving delivery of sailing education to our youth.
Making dreams come true
Frolic on the Bay, a program that provides children with physical, chronic and life-threatening conditions with the opportunity to experience boat rides, has been part of the Erie Yacht Club for almost 30 years. We now have a designated fund to support this worthwhile activity.
Improving maritime safety
We’ve partially supported the Regional Science Consortium’s near-shore weather buoy, which provides up-to-the-minute wind and wave conditions on Lake Erie, so boaters can easily determine whether the conditions are safe.
Opportunity for the disadvantaged
In conjunction with the United Way’s Community Schools program, we’ve provided scholarships to allow underserved youth the opportunity to experience the joy and challenge of sailing to take sailing classes.
Intercollegiate sailing
Through grants to Gannon University, Penn State Behrend, and Mercyhurst University, we’ve made it possible for local college students to participate in intercollegiate sailing competition, both at other venues as well as our own Battle of Lake Erie Intercollegiate Regatta.