April 10, 2003  The Newport Yacht Club Endowment Fund committee received approval of the Newport Yacht Club’s Board of Directors to organize and develop the Endowment Fund. The project initiated, by R. Carey Reeder, in 2001 found support and encouragement from many sources.

 

April 24, 2003  Signing of the corporation papers creating the Board of Trustees was accomplished with Commodore Lauren Stevenson, Commodore Frank Sailes, Joseph Lopes and  R.Carey Reeder as signatures.  Each of these individuals has been significant in the development of the corporation and their signature gives breath to the new work that will be required and to the hopes for the future of the fund.

 

May 1, 2003  At the May meeting of the Newport Yacht Club the first general presentation by the Endowment was given to the attendees by R. Carey Reeder, the first President of the Fund. The Funds newly designed brochure was distributed and well received by the audience. Several donations were accepted after the meeting.

 

August 9, 2003  The fund gave it’s first educational award to Mr. Maxwell Whitney for his outstanding activities as a junior sailor, his prize was a, “Chapman’s Guide” the major reference works for boating. The Endowment Fund is proud of Max and his accomplishments this year.

 

September 6, 2003  The first fund raising event, The Rubber Ducky Regatta 2003, was held with more than 100 in attendance. Twelve boats raced with costumed crews as another 15 non racing contributors built the spectator fleet. Prizes and awards from more than 16 companies and supporters were distributed. A wonderful inaugural event which raised over one thousand dollars for the Fund.

 

August 28, 2004  The 2nd Annual Rubber Ducky Regatta took place with more than 16 crews racing. A bright and warm day made for fun all along the regatta route. The first Raffle for an Inflatable Dinghy was run with more than 150 people entering the raffle. Prizes and awards were given to all crews and a special prize was given to Ms. Abbey Preston, a junior sailor who attended the NYCEF sailing school.

 

August 27, 2005 The 3rd Annual Rubber Ducky Regatta occurred under sunny skies and warm temperatures. The racers made it around the course in 1 hour and 16 minutes with two new challenges, finding the name of the boat on Mooring #1 in Newport harbor and blowing a string of bubbles at dock number 5.  Drawings for the inflatable, a GPS and a Surprise meal  sold about 184 tickets.

The Endowment gave a Chapman's Guide to young Mr.Whitney for his sportsmanship at junior Sailing as well as a check to the NYC Jr. Sailing Program and a check to the Restoration of the Goat Isl. Lighthouse Foundation.

 

March 25, 2006 The Winter Lasagna Dinner and Auction was held with more than 80 people attending the event which featured a dozen items for auction including a fold-up bicycle, a Garmin GPS, American Girl Outfits, helicopter flights, and much more. Mr. Lou Burns was honored for his work as a Trustee from inception of the fund to present, he will be moving into other projects as of April 2006.

August  26, 2006 The 4th Annual Rubber Ducky Regatta was held under sunny skies and a total of 15 racers completed the course in one hour and five minutes. New to the race was the Lost Ducky which wandered the waterfront but was found and brought home by the racers. Grants were given to the Portsmouth Youth Sailing Assoc., The NYC Junior Sailing Program, and to a new student at  IYRS who received a set of professional tools to start his career in yacht restoration.

 

April 30, 2008  The endowment fund was officially certified by the IRS as a Permanent 501 C 3 non-profit organization.

Accomplishments

Newport Yacht Club Endowment Fund

A gift that grows and continues to give.

Marine education is stimulating