American Sailing Association raises $41,000+ for Hands Across America campaign

LOS ANGELES — The American Sailing Association, or ASA, announced it raised $41,379 in its most recent fundraising campaign to benefit Hands Across the Sea. The fundraiser, which has been in effect for seven years, has raised about $180,000 overall, all benefiting Hands Across America. The nonprofit organization specifically works to raise literacy levels of children across the Eastern Caribbean.

People donated money to ASA throughout September and October 2018 by watching a one-minute video about Hands Across the Sea. The video was available on ASA’s website. Viewers, at the end of the one-minute video, were given the option to donate to Hands Across the Sea. Each donor was entered into the sweepstakes for a chance to win the grand prize of a weeklong sailing charter in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (courtesy of Horizon Yacht Charters and valued at $3,000), as well as chances to win a weeklong vacation at The Verandah Resort & Spa in Antigua or the St. James’s Club Morgan Bay Resort & Spa in Saint Lucia (courtesy of Elite Island Resorts and valued at $900 each).

This year’s randomly drawn winners were: Julie Via, William Carter and Lori Bishop.

Hands Across the Sea, to date, has raised funds to provide more than 464,000 books to 400-plus schools and libraries in the Eastern Caribbean. More than 100,000 students have benefitted from the support of generous sailors and other donors.

“The Caribbean and its people are extremely important to us at the American Sailing Association,” said Lenny Shabes, ASA’s founder. “The majority of our members express an interest in sailing the waters that surround the islands that benefit from the work of Hands Across the Sea. Thus, it is our responsibility to help.”

Hands Across the Sea donates books from education publishers Scholastic, Penguin and Capstone, and Caribbean imprints such as Macmillan Caribbean and Editorial Campana Books. The charity, since its founding 11 years ago, has expanded its services to also providing teacher professional development and student librarian training to Eastern Caribbean schools.

ASA has been the leader in U.S. sailing education for 35 years and has grown to include an international network of more than 350 professionally accredited sailing schools. More than one million certifications have been awarded to 500,000-plus people who have been introduced to sailing through ASA schools, clubs and programs since 1983.

Photo: American Sailing Association