Betsy Alison has dedicated her life to disabled sailing, and is the Paralympic Coach for the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider, and in 2011 was inducted into the US Sailing Hall of Fame. An amazing woman who has introduced many to the sport of sailing, she is incredibly supportive, encouraging and motivating, an inspiring sailor for all. The Paralympic teams have brought home Olympic medals under her coaching. Her focus is the development of national team athletes in the three Paralympic sailing events in preparation for the 2016 Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and beyond. Betsy is a five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and was inducted in the 2011 inaugural class of the National Sailing Hall of Fame. She was twice honored as USOC Coach of the Year 1999 and 2008. Betsy has brought newly injured veterans into the world of boating, sailing, competing, living.

How has your Nominees efforts made a difference for the better?

Betsy inspires and motivates many, who may otherwise not believe they could even get in a boat, to go way beyond their perceived limits and soar to new heights and abilities. She has helped to build bridges between those with disabilities and those who are able bodied, building a greater sense of community and understanding. Well liked and respected by those who have the privilege to know and work with her, Betsy is a strong and successful coach. The main image shown is of Betsy with with the late John Ross-Duggan, a double Bronze medalist from the Paralympics in Atlanta and Athens.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?

Recognition will help get the word out to many people about the work that Betsy and adaptive.ussailing.org is doing in the sport of disabled sailing. Building more understanding, inspiration and tolerance within a larger community, to see people as people, not as a person with a disability, will help our blue planet be a better place to live.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.

Adaptive Sailing US Sailing

National Sailing Hall of Fame Inductee

http://fairplayinternational.org/cifp/fair-play-award-winners/2010/08/09/684#.UmABr1TD-ic

http://www.abilitymagazine.com/Paralympic-Sailing.html

http://www.bluetoad.com/article/Betsy+Alison+%26+Disabled+Sailors+Teach+One+Another,+On+And+Off+The+Water/1445889/0/article.html, http://www.sosgala.org/homepage/special-guest/

http://www.sosgala.org/homepage/special-guest/

Betsy Allison was nominated by Debra Frenkel of Freedom Waters Foundation.]]> http://oceanheroes.org/?feed=rss2&p=1115 0 http://oceanheroes.org/?p=265 http://oceanheroes.org/?p=265#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:24:30 +0000 http://yachtworldheroes.com/?p=265 Debra Frenkel and John Weller co-founded Freedom Waters Foundation with the compelling mission to enhancing lives by providing therapeutic boating and marine related activities for people with disabilities, life threatening illnesses, youth at risk and others with special needs. The father of a child who has participated in FWF boating experiences may have said it best. “Special needs basically means the Loss of Freedom: Loss of the senses… smell, taste, hearing, feel/touch, sight. Freedom Waters Foundation gives our blind, deaf, and paralyzed child his senses back,” wrote John Buck, Father of Riley Buck, age 8. “The smell and taste of the salt water air; the vibration (hearing) of the motor or gentle rocking of the waves; the touch of the sun and wind in his hair. As for sight, the organization gives us something to look forward to every time we participate. For a moment in time, our son/family, are “normal” and a part of something very special.” Debra Frenkel, founded Freedom Waters Foundation with the compelling mission to enhancing lives by providing boating opportunities and marine related activities for people with disabilities, life threatening illnesses, youth at risk and others with special needs.

How has your nominee’s efforts made a difference for the better? Yacht outings for children with cancer and their families began in October of 2004 and are now serving numerous children with special needs and their families, in four South Florida counties: Collier, Broward. Palm Beach and Lee Counties. Freedom Waters Foundation is partnered with Collier County Parks and Recreation to provide adaptive sailing; teaching people with disabilities how to sail independently for those who can and providing sailing experiences to others who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience the therapeutic effects of being on the water and feeling the wondrous sense of Freedom. They have also been instrumental in guiding other adaptive sailing programs around the country. Freedom Waters Foundation provides fishing opportunities and tournaments for those with disabilities, other special needs and youth at risk. Private boat owners and other volunteers donate the use of their vessels and their time to share the enjoyment and sport of fishing with the Freedom Waters Foundation participants. Participants are invited to participate through numerous local social service agencies or self-referred. Freedom Waters Foundation works with nationally established fishing organizations that encourages and educates participants regarding safe and appropriate fishing practices.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause? YachtWorld’s recognition of Freedom Waters Foundation and our willingness to help other communities set up similar programs to provide boating opportunities to people of special needs, may result in touching more lives than they may ever have thought possible.

Website and online articles

http://freedomwatersfoundation.org
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/mar/15/freedom-waters-celebrates-five-years-service-child/
http://southernboating.com/blog/2011/09/21/freedom-waters-foundation-by-laura-dunn/
http://www.boats.com/blog/2009/02/john-weller-receives-first-broker-of-the-year-award/

Debra Frenkel and John Weller were nominated by Andrew Cilla of Luke Brown Yachts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FWF RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FROM YACHTWORLD FOUNDATION February 18, 2012 – By debby- GREAT NEWS! – FWF Co-Founders, YachtWorld Foundation 2011 YachtWorld Heroes John Weller (5 time cancer survivor and 30+ year Yacht Broker) and Debra Frenkel (Social Worker), Co-Founders of the charity, Freedom Waters Foundation were announced as one of the YachtWorld Foundation’s 2011 YachtWorld Heroes, at the Miami International Boat Show’s opening breakfast, on 2/16/12, lending… READ MORE ….. ]]> http://oceanheroes.org/?feed=rss2&p=265 0