Year End Giving

August 2023: It’s Launch Day, and I’m down at the dock watching ten happy teen boatbuilders take turns rowing their new skiff around the mooring field. It’s also Friday, so the smell of a cookout is in the air as our sailing instructors organize the weekly BBQ/awards ceremony for the 50 young sailors and their families celebrating another great week on the water. The Herreshoff Sailing Program is focused on seamanship as opposed to racing, and I’m really happy about the life lessons such as teamwork and creative problem solving we’re able to provide. Because of your support, these programs are thriving, and these experiences are making a difference in our students’ lives. 

Also at work on the waterfront this morning is the team from Jaia Robotics testing the latest version of the JaiaBot, an innovative unmanned marine data collection device. Jaia is part of the Herreshoff Blue Innovation Center, a place where entrepreneurs and innovators are coming together to develop solutions for healthier oceans and more resilient coastlines, important challenges that are driving the growth of the blue economy in New England.  

This is just a typical August Friday at the Herreshoff, but it’s a great illustration of ways we are engaging with and contributing to our community. As I write to you today, I think about days like that as evidence of the strides we are making as we work to inspire the next generation of problem solvers. Your continued support and contributions have played a pivotal role in propelling our vision forward, and for that, we extend our heartfelt gratitude. We couldn’t do any of this without you. 

With your help, our S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Education Program has emerged as a beacon of inspiration and a step along the pathway to a career in Rhode Island’s blue economy. The knowledge and skills our young builders acquire give them the tools they need to play a role in a future where innovation drives sustainable solutions.  

Our adult workshops on bronze casting and woodworking have also become popular. This campus has a legacy as a place where people come to build things, and that continues to this day.

Your gifts also have a direct impact on this museum’s ability to preserve the Herreshoff legacy through stories that entertain, educate, and inspire our visitors. If you have yet to visit our newest exhibit, “Challengers, Defenders, and Contenders: The Hodgdon Collection of America’s Cup Models, 1851-1937,” I invite you to experience the evolution of America’s Cup yacht design through a remarkable collection of half-models carved by George I. “Sonny” Hodgdon.

And finally, through our long-running Herreshoff Lecture Series and the immensely popular Summer Sunset Music Series, the Herreshoff campus has become a destination for art and culture in our community. As autumn comes to Burnside Street, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made on our journey to transform this organization into a modern, forward-looking museum that inspires innovation locally, nationally, and globally.  

While it has been another year of sustainable programming and growth, the reality is there is more we can and need to do, and it is only possible with your ongoing generosity. In the coming year, we would like to:

As we set our sights on the future, I’m asking for your continued support. Your engagement, your enthusiasm, and your financial contributions will sustain our efforts and amplify the positive change we’re bringing to our community and beyond. We honestly couldn’t do this without you. 

Finally, I invite you to join me for a Friday on the Herreshoff waterfront next summer. It’s a pretty inspiring way to end the week! 

Kind regards, 

Bill Lynn

President & Executive Director