CRAB’s mission is to bring the thrill, freedom, and therapeutic value of sailing to people with disabilities, recovering warriors, and local youth from at-risk neighborhoods. CRAB provides sailing experiences and instruction to over 1,000 guests every year from its base of operations at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, MD.  Thanks to the numerous CRAB volunteer skippers, crew, and support staff,  sailing programs are held every week from April through October and include Family Sail Sundays, Group Sails, Sailing Camps and Clinics, and Regattas.

In 2017, the CRAB fleet was modernized and six new Beneteau First 22A boats (A for Adaptive) were acquired and modified for guests.  In addition, the fleet offers a Martin 16 with a “sip & puff” steering system that allows a quadriplegic skipper to adjust the sails and move the tiller.

Jack Kagan became very interested in CRAB, and envisioned replicating their efforts one day. He began supporting them with significant donations of both funding and materials. The Foundation continues this legacy of support, and has purchased three Beneteau boats for CRAB.  Each of the three boats is named for a Kagan family member or one of Jack’s boats – the Little Bit, the Lainie (for Elaine Kagan) and the Andrea (his deceased daughter). The Foundation is also supporting their effort to acquire a new marina to expand the fleet.

Diveheart works to build confidence, independence and self-esteem in children, adults and veterans of all abilities through scuba diving, scuba therapy and related activities. Utilizing certified adaptive dive buddies, Diveheart provides safe and inclusive activities for adaptive divers to enjoy the wonders of the aquatic world.  Diveheart focuses on abilities – not disabilities – to instill the can do spirit in order to inspire participants to take on challenges that before might have seemed impossible.

Diveheart works with individuals who have a variety of disabilities, including physical and developmental disabilities, vision and hearing impairments, amputations, traumatic brain injuries, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and more. They have programs across the globe.

USSMC began as a handful of dedicated sailors committed to the development of a community sailing center. They were granted a charter from US SAILING. Bolstered with this endorsement the United States Sailing Center – Martin County opened for business in 1992 on the shores of the old Jensen Beach Causeway.

The initial Sailing Center consisted of a modest tent, a camper and a few donated boats.The facility became designated by the United States Sailing Association as a US Sailing Center. This honor recognizes that USSCMC exceeds all the required standards set forth by U.S. Sailing and maintains an impressive commitment to high quality public access to sailing. The USSCMC hosts large-scale elite events like Junior Olympics on an annual basis.

Founded in 1975, Canine Companions for Independence® is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. They have locations throughout the country.

Canine Companions Provides Assistance Dogs for:

• Adults– Adults with disabilities are partnered with service or hearing dogs to increase independence.
• Children – Assistance dogs perform physical tasks for children with a range of disabilities to increase independence with support from an adult.
• Veterans– Wounded veterans and veterans with disabilities are matched with assistance dogs for greater independence.*
• Professionals – Assistance dogs are expertly trained and partnered with a working professional in a health care, visitation, criminal justice or education setting.

The mission of the 23rd Veteran organization is simply to “provide happier, healthier lives for veterans living with trauma.” Personal trainers, positive psychologists, and military personnel collectively created the ’23V Recon Playbook’. This playbook is a unique 14-week exposure focused on removing the negative effect of trauma.

The 14 weeks consist of an outward-bound type of outdoor adventure, intense focus on fitness training and positive psychology, and exploring/addressing trigger associations.

Based on self-reported data, this is a very effective program for military and veterans who have experienced trauma.