Prior Grant Requests
| Organization Name | Grant Year | Cycle | Request Amount | Grant Awarded | Awarded Amount | Matching Funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manatee River Youth Sailing Inc | 2026 |
2026-1 |
$5,000.00 |
Organization Name: Manatee River Youth Sailing Inc
Organization Website: https://manateeriveryouthsailing.com/
Year Established: 1953Â
Mission Statement:
MRYS has a deep commitment to ensuring that every young person in Manatee County — not just those with financial means — can experience the life-changing power of sailing.
Contact Name: Emily Crotty Years in Position: 2
Contact Email: emily@manateeriveryouthsailing.com
Contact Phone: (814) 566-5386
Address: 4307 13th St W
Palmetto, Florida 34221
Have you previously received a grant? No If yes, please indicate the year(s): Â
How did you hear about our organization?
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What do you believe we can provide your organization?
Manatee River Youth Sailing (MRYS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving youth across Manatee County through inclusive sailing programs that build confidence, leadership, teamwork, and environmental stewardship. With nearly eight decades of youth sailing on the Manatee River, MRYS operates from the Bishop Sailing Center in Palmetto and offers instruction for children ages 6–16. Need-based scholarships ensure access for youth from underserved households.
Girls in Manatee County face persistent barriers to enrichment programs that develop leadership and self-confidence—especially opportunities that combine physical activity, mentorship, and hands‑on learning. Financial constraints, limited access to safe outdoor programming, and reduced exposure to leadership experiences disproportionately affect girls from underserved families.
In 2024 MRYS awarded 10 need-based scholarships to students from low-income families; although all eligible applicants received support, only two applicants were girls. This gap highlights the need for stronger outreach and targeted investment to engage more young female sailors.
Without intentional support, many girls miss critical opportunities during formative years to build self‑efficacy, communication skills, and a sense of belonging—foundational elements for long‑term educational and economic success. Addressing these gaps aligns directly with the TLC Women’s Giving Circle’s focus on early, preventive investments that improve outcomes for women and girls.
TLC Women’s Giving Circle’s mission—to empower women and girls by supporting programs that promote education, self‑sufficiency, leadership, and long‑term opportunity—closely matches MRYS’s work. Manatee River Youth Sailing provides experiential education that develops confidence, life skills, leadership capacity, and pathways to future success regardless of financial circumstance. With TLC’s support, MRYS can expand leadership training, increase access to positive role models and mentors, and recruit more girls into sailing. Through these experiences, girls gain independence, decision‑making ability, teamwork, and resilience—skills that support academic success, personal growth, and long‑term economic self‑sufficiency.
What will the grant be used for?
The $5,000 will fund no‑cost sailing instruction for girls (ages 6–16) and cover direct program costs: certified instructors and low student‑to‑teacher ratios for mentorship; boats, life jackets, rigging, and maintenance for safety; scholarships to remove financial barriers; targeted outreach to engage underserved girls; and evaluation to measure outcomes and guide improvement. The program delivers water safety and seamanship, STEM‑integrated learning (science, math, engineering), leadership development (peer mentoring and assistant instructor roles), and positive female role models. By placing girls in active leadership—making decisions, solving problems, and working collaboratively—sailing builds confidence, independence, and long‑term opportunity. Administrative overhead is minimized and absorbed by MRYS.
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Provide the grant amount you are seeking: $5,000.00
Do you provide services to Sarasota and/or Manatee County? Yes
What is the financial impact per individual/program this grant will provide?
The MRYS sailing program will serve 10 girls annually. Ten full scholarships cost $4,000 total ($400 per scholar) and will support measurable gains in confidence, leadership, and self‑efficacy. Program outcomes include at least 60% of participants reporting increased confidence, at least 50% demonstrating leadership or teamwork growth, at least 85% achieving water safety proficiency, and at least 85% participant and parent satisfaction. Effectiveness will be evaluated through pre‑ and post‑assessments, instructor observations, surveys, and participation tracking, with impact stories documenting transformations—such as girls who begin the program shy and uncertain and emerge as confident leaders mentoring peers and taking initiative on and off the water.
Please provide the estimated number of women, children and families impacted.
This project will serve 10 girls annually, prioritizing those from families experiencing financial barriers. Scholarships ensure equitable access and consistent participation, allowing girls to fully engage in programming that supports both personal and academic growth.
Is there a matching grant? Yes If yes, indicate donation source: Five pending grants.
May we tour your facility? Yes
What reciprocal benefit can you provide our organization:
The Manatee River Youth Sailing can include the logo of the organization on the website and social media posts about the program, and include the logo on all publicity materials produced to recruit girls for the program.
Proof of Non-Profit Status https://tlcwcf.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/15/MRPF-IRS-Determination-Letter.pdf, https://tlcwcf.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/15/MRYS-IRS-Name-Change.pdf
Organization’s Logo [110 show_image=1]
Project/Program-specific budget: https://tlcwcf.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/15/The-Lake-Club-Womens-Giving-Circle-MRYS-Budget.pdf
Guide Star Profile/Rating (if applicable): https://tlcwcf.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/15/Manatee-River-Youth-Sailing-Inc-_-Candid.pdf
Anything else you would like to share with us?
MRYS sustains its programs through a diversified funding model that includes grants, individual donations, fundraising events, and program fees supplemented by scholarships. Support from TLC Women’s Giving Circle strengthens this model while ensuring that girls, particularly those facing financial barriers, remain at the center of program expansion.
By investing in Manatee River Youth Sailing, TLC Women’s Giving Circle will advance its mission to empower women and girls through education, leadership development, and opportunity. Together, we can ensure that girls in Manatee County gain the confidence, skills, and independence they need to chart their own successful futures — on the water and beyond.