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Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale of a very inspirational trip – growing from the idea for just one boat – to an entire fleet of ships. The fourth “Anchors Away” launch at Oleta River Sate Park was a monumental event as six new boats joined a fleet of 29 others already making it possible for children with physical and intellectual disabilities to learn to sail and set a course for success in the marine industry.
This year’s Anchors Away launch, in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, was attended by a dedicated crew of benefactors and community leaders uniting in efforts to teach disabled students how to sail on their own while learning, science, math and life skills – an innovative concept conceived by Dr. Jayne Greenberg, Director of Physical Education and Health Literacy for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Anchors Away students who are now the “captains” of their boats attend North Miami Beach Sr. High, American Sr. High, Braddock Sr. High and Jorge Mas Canosa Middle.
The mate was a mighty giving man, the skipper benevolent for sure, and now young passengers can set sail each day for educational, liberating tours. Anchors Away Foundation president Aventura Commissioner Billy Joel and Aventura Marketing Council chair Cliff Schulman of Greenberg Traurig, an Anchors Away Foundation board member, helped welcome special guests including:
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, Miami-Dade County Public Schools; Assistant Superintendent Enid Weisman; Aventura Mayor Susan Gottlieb, North Miami Beach Mayor Myron Rosner; Sunny Isles Beach Vice Mayor Lewis Thaler; Steven Dale, manager Oleta River State Park; Paul Rice, Bureau Chief, District 5, Florida Division of Recreation and Parks; Steve Crossett, assistant park manager; Nick Mansbach, Sailing Director, Coconut Grove Sailing Club; and Gus Zuloaga, Commodore, Miami Yacht Club.
Special appreciation was also expressed to Miami-Dade Commissioner Sally Heyman for sponsoring three boats; Dr. Barry and Judy Silverman and the Wachovia Foundation; lead Anchors Away instructor David Diamond and the Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High classical string orchestra under the direction of Bringle Cidel and leadership of Larry Davidson.
So this is the tale of Anchors Away, it will be here for a long, long time, helping kids to make the best of things when they’ve got an uphill climb…"Thousands of children from Miami-Dade Public Schools now participate in the Marine Academy and Anchors Away sailings from the home base of Oleta River State Park, Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Miami Yacht Club and soon to open, the Larry and Penny Thompson Park in South Dade,” Comm. Joel said.
“We’re proud to say that 100% of every dollar donated to the Anchors Away Foundation is spent on purchasing the boats, specialized motorized equipment for children who cannot use their arms, beach access wheelchairs and other necessary equipment for the continuation of this program. We thank all our sponsors and donors who have given our students the freedom on the water that they may not have on land.”
For the fourth Anchors Away launch, students set sail as billowing mastheads displaying the latest flagship sponsor names began propelling their journey to further success.
Calder Race Course & Casino
Tom O’Donnell
Dr. Muransky’s Chiropractic Crew
Dr. David Muransky
Florida’s Riviera
City of Sunny Isles Beach
Nuverus Euforia
Automated HealthCare Solutions
Orna Security “Sweet Sail”
Belina Nagar
Our Girls…Sophie, Ariel, Emma
Paul and Maggie Fischer
For more information about becoming an Anchors Away sponsor, contact the Aventura Marketing Council: 305-932-5334.
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