Angel Funding

Fundraising programs for community sailing center is hardly news. We would suspect that most every community sailing center relies heavily – and annually – on donations to keep their programs running. However, the news quotient does rise when the fundraising goes particularly well, or has the ability to do so. Enter the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center.

Since 1977, this not-for-profit, volunteer-driven, open-to-the-public sailing organization has introduced more than 100,000 people to the sport. Nearly 8,000 adults and 20,000 children have taken formal sailing and racing classes there. Additionally, MCSC is also internationally acclaimed for bringing sailing to children and adults with disabilities, and to kids that otherwise would never have a chance to sail. And it has all been done, 7 days a week May through October, from a sagging, leaky 900 square foot building with no indoor plumbing and one cluttered poorly-lit classroom.

MCSC has been working for almost 5 years to raise the funds to improve its facilities and programs and increase its reach. Buddy Melges has served as campaign chairperson, and Harken kicked it off with a major commitment. But it has been a long road. Then last month, a donor challenged the organization to stop fundraising and start building. If MCSC reaches $2.4 million in commitments by December 1st, 2007, it will receive challenge grants of more than $1 million and the expansion can begin.

Click here to learn more about their expansion plans, or click on the button below to make a donation.