PROVIDENCE – Mayor David N. Cicilline joined Providence kids as they expertly sailed across Narragansett Bay towards the finish line in the US SAILING Mayor’s Cup.  The race culminated a successful summer partnership between US SAILING, Community Boating (CBC) and the Providence After School Alliance (PASA) designed to teach children life lessons through a myriad of skills involved in sailing.

US SAILING chose Community Boating as a pilot program to be used as a national model in hopes of expanding the program throughout the country.

“Partnerships like this enable us to provide our children with rich, exciting experiences that boost their confidence and spark their imagination,” said Mayor Cicilline.  “These children are gaining valuable skills during the summer months that help accelerate student achievement by supporting what they’ve learned in the classroom.”

“We are excited about the impact this new initiative will have on children in the Providence area,” said Chase Hogoboom, director of development, US SAILING. “US SAILING, PASA, and the CBC have combined their respective resources to make this summer sailing program a reality.”

US SAILING, the national governing body of the sport, conducted the Kialoa Summer Leadership Initiative near India Point Park in partnership with CBC and PASA through a grant from the John B. and Nelly Llanos Kilroy Foundation.   The children learned about all aspects of sailing on land and on the water from instructors certified by US SAILING.

“We are thrilled to engage the resources of US SAILING and PASA to help youth sailors experience the power that sailing holds in forging life-long, experiential learning opportunities to develop critical educational, social, and self-awareness skills,” said CBC Executive Director, John O’Flaherty.

The children participated in the sailing initiative as part of the newly established PASA summer program.  PASA AfterZones combine academic support at Providence Schools with fun activities such as sailing, archery, tennis, hiking, culinary arts, theater, dancing and scavenger hunts at the Roger Williams Park Zoo.  Children begin their day focused on academics and spend their afternoons engaged in activities that reinforce what they’ve learned in the classroom. 

About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US SAILING is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. 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 US Sailing Team Alpha Graphics.

About Community Boating Center
The Community Boating Center is a non-profit, 501c3 recreational organization offering all members of the community an opportunity to sail.  Located in India Point Park, CBC provides outreach, sailing lessons and affordable access to the Providence waterfront. Gifts of cash or property to CBC may be treated as charitable donations for federal tax purposes.