New and renewed grantees for 2018

11th Hour Racing has announced their first round of grantees for 2018. The recipients represent a wide-range of solutions for restoring ocean health and putting sustainability at the forefront of decision-making.

Fostering environmentally sustainable practices on and off the water requires commitment across many sectors including industry, research, nonprofits, and the sailing community. 11th Hour Racing is committed to mobilizing the sailing and marine communities to create systemic change for the improved health of our oceans.

11th Hour Racing’s grant work is divided into three categories: support and promote solutions that Reduce Ocean Pollution; educate and foster Ocean Stewardship amongst sailing and coastal communities; Advance Clean Technologies and Best Practices that reduce the environmental impact of the sailing industry and maritime communities.

The recipients are:
• Clean Ocean Access – Since 2016, four trash skimmers installed along waterfronts in Rhode Island have collected nearly 20,000 pounds of debris. This new grant will expand the very successful Trash Skimmer Project beyond Narragansett Bay to the broader New England region. Skimmers will be located in highly visible and accessible sites to not only reduce marine debris but also grow public awareness.

• Community Boating Center New Bedford – Will expand their science and engineering programming to engage approximately 3000 public school students in New Bedford, and launch a new training program for high-school aged students focused on sustainable aquaculture, filling a skill gap in the regional fishing industry.

• Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory – Empower middle school and high school students to build their own boats, make their own sails, and learn how to sail all while using the art and science of these disciplines to foster physical and emotional health among participants. By weaving social-emotional learning into programming, participants are placed on a trajectory where they are more likely to succeed in high school and beyond.

• RIMTA Foundation – This pilot project will repurpose retired or abandoned vessels, by dismantling and re-processing their fiberglass hulls into cement as an alternative to sending the material to landfill. The Rhode Island Fiberglass Vessel Recycling Project is modeled after successful experiences in Europe and builds upon two years of research and investigation by Rhode Island Sea Grant.

• Rocking the Boat – Using activities centered on small boats and local waters—sailing, environmental science, and wooden boatbuilding—Rocking the Boat helps young people in the poorest Congressional District in the nation, develop the technical, social, and emotional skills to realize their full potential. This new grant will launch the College Persistence Program, which will provide social and academic support to Rocking the Boat alums after high school, through college or training experience to ensure success in the long-term.

• Sail Newport – A unique grant for the One Ocean Exploration Zone at the Newport stopover of the 2017-2018 Volvo Ocean Race. The exhibit will bring together 26 organizations to offer hands-on opportunities for kids and adults alike to discover ocean science and learn more about protecting the marine environment.

• UN Environment – Their #CleanSeas campaign aims to engage governments, the general public, civil society, and the private sector in the fight against marine plastic pollution. Over the next five years, this campaign aims to address the root-cause of marine litter by targeting the production and consumption of single-use plastic – and is currently creating a groundswell of activity at each of the Volvo Ocean Race stopovers.

• University of Georgia – Supporting the work of Dr. Jenna Jambeck and Dr. Kyle J. Johnsen, this grant project will expand the Marine Debris Tracker app, and forge new partnerships with Seabin and the Sea Education Association – for all three elements of the project, the end goal will be using and applying the data collected on marine litter to inform change around the world.

About 11th Hour Racing:
11th Hour Racing establishes strategic partnerships within the sailing and maritime communities to promote collaborative, systemic change benefitting the health of our ocean – one degree at a time.

Since 2010, 11th Hour Racing has been harnessing the power of sport with an innovative and comprehensive approach through three primary areas of engagement: Partners, Grantees, and Ambassadors. 11th Hour Racing’s grant program is funded by The Schmidt Family Foundation.

Source: 11th Hour Racing