FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Marlieke de Lange Eaton
401-683-0800
US SAILING
Announces New Program Providing
Financial Aid to Junior Sailors
Portsmouth, R.I. (March 15, 2008) – US SAILING, national governing body
for the sport, has created a new financial aid program - named Sailorships -
aimed at providing financial assistance to junior sailors between the ages
of 13 and 19 who are interested in competing in US SAILING Championships
and/or clinics. The goal of the program is to assist young sailors with the
development of their sailing careers regardless of their financial
resources. The program, made possible by a generous donation from two US
SAILING members, offers travel funds to youth sailors traveling to US
SAILING Championships and/or clinics. Depending on the amounts granted, US
SAILING could help up to 100 youth sailors before the program’s conclusion
at the end of 2009.
The amounts awarded through the Sailorships program will vary from $100-$500
per person per year based on need. Awards may be requested prior to or after
a 2008 or 2009 event, but only one award per year may be granted per sailor.
Interested sailors and parents can complete on online application and are
asked to submit a letter of recommendation from an officer of their sailing
organization. Sailing organizations are encouraged to nominate deserving
junior sailors. All parties must be US SAILING members to be eligible.
An additional service of the Sailorship program will be travel grants to the
U.S. sailors competing at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship
scheduled for July in Denmark. A total of $10,000 will be awarded to help
with travel expenses.
For more information about the US SAILING Sailorship program, please visit
www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/sailorships.asp.
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing
body for sailing. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode
Island, the organization provides leadership for the sport of sailing in the
U.S. US SAILING offers training and education programs for instructors and
race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and
communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides
administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country,
including National Championships and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing
Teams. For more information, please visit
www.ussailing.org.
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