Stories ~ Current stories
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Flipping boats for charity May 2, 2010
Details:
If you ever visit Victoria BC, walk along the Inner Harbour and you might encounter one of two tall ships docked there. These graceful vessels are owned by SALTS, a charitable organization that uses them for sail and life training on the open seas. School or youth groups participate in five-day voyages to the Gulf Islands each spring and fall. Individual young people join in ten-day summer voyages along the east or west coast of Vancouver Island. Every few years, an offshore voyage is launched to destinations such as the South Pacific, Far East, Australia, or Europe. These groups all pay their own way for an unforgettable experience.
In addition, SALTS partners with other community organizations to provide bursaries for young people from challenging life situations (cognitive disabilities, at-risk, cancer recovery, recent immigrants, etc).
To support this creative work, SALTS employs a creative fundraising method rarely seen. They receive donated boats, rehabilitate them, and sell them, with proceeds going towards operational expenses for the charity. Each year about 40 boats are received by Director of Operations, Dave Eggerts. During Bridgeway's last round of professional development grants in 2007, Eggerts received matching funding to obtain his Master of Arts in Leadership from TWU. Years later, he has now graduated and continues to exercise his craft at SALTS with greater skill and wisdom brought from his formation in the master's program.
For more on Bridgeway's grant, click here.
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