$27 million is by no means pocket change.
But that’s how much Lee Tawney is asking for to fund the construction of the National Sailing Hall of Fame in Annapolis. As director of the Hall of Fame, Tawney is traveling around the country in pursuit of potential donors to help fund the project.
While small individual donations are welcome to fund the educational programs, such a large undertaking demands a large, generous donation. Finding this kind of generosity in a post-recession climate is the challenge that has been plaguing the Hall of the Fame effort. Although the state gave the non-profit organization three more years to raise the money back in February, time is ticking.
The hope is that potential donors will see the long-term benefits of having a centralized location commemorating the sailing world. Not only will the Hall of Fame honor its heroes and educate its audience, but it also has the potential to stimulate the economy as a destination for tourists and sailing enthusiasts outside of the area.
In the meantime, Tawney continues to actively pitch to prospective audiences that will hopefully share his desire to immortalize the American sailing experience. To learn more, visit www.nshof.org.
Photo courtesy of the National Sailing Hall of Fame.
