Established in 2023, this fund was created to inspire future generations of sailors to learn to love sailing and create a lasting legacy in honor of Nicholas Papadopoulos. Nicholas' passion for sailing--the social, technical and competitive nature--will carry on by supporting local non-profit organizations and schools who provide junior sailing training programs, team and fleet racing events, and related maritime and STEM educational activities. The purpose of the Spirit of Nicholas Sailing Fund is to encourage young sailors to actively participate in junior training programs and racing, and relating maritime and STEM educational activities locally in Annapolis and on the Chesapeake Bay.

Help support Spirit of Nicholas Sailing Fund by donating to their Fund below.

Support the Spirit of Nicholas Sailing Fund

A MESSAGE FROM HEATHER EAST, FOUNDER OF THE SPIRIT OF NICHOLAS SAILING FUND

I am proud to announce the launch of the Spirit of Nicholas Sailing Fund, established to honor the memory of my son Nicholas Papadopoulos and his dedication to competitive junior sailing and his love of the Chesapeake Bay.

Our mission is to inspire future generations of sailors to learn to love sailing and to create a lasting legacy in honor of Nicholas Papadopoulos.  Nicholas’ passion for sailing—the social, technical and competitive nature—will carry on by supporting non-profit organizations and schools who provide junior sailing programs, team and fleet racing, and related maritime and STEM educational activities. 

Our purpose is to support organizations who encourage young sailors to actively participate in junior training programs, team and fleet racing and related maritime and STEM educational activities locally in Annapolis and on the Chesapeake Bay.   

Funding will provide financial assistance to the following:

- High School Sailing Equipment and Supplies

- High School Sailing Travel Team Expenses

- Junior Sailing Camp Expenses

- Optimist Fleet Expenses

- C420 Travel Team Expenses

- Junior Sailing Equipment and Supplies

- Junior Sailing Club Regatta Expenses

- Maritime and STEM Educational Expenses

The Donor Advised Fund will be administered by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County together with the Spirit of Nicholas Advisors to determine where the grants will be rewarded annually.  The fund will seek contributions and fundraisers will be held independently to sustain the endowment.

Sailing made a positive impact on Nicholas and we are committed to supporting the many community organizations he benefited from, including the following:

- Annapolis Yacht Club Foundation (AYC)

- Baltimore County Sailing Center

- Club 420 Association

- Inter-Scholastic Sailing Association (ISSA)

- Key School Sailing

- Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association (CBYRA)

- Club 420 Association

- Chesapeake Regional Accessible Boating (CRAB)

- Eastport Yacht Club Foundation (EYC)

- West River Sailing Foundation

- DC Sail Community Sailing

- Maryland Interscholastic Sailing Association (MDISA)

- Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Sailing Association (MASSA)

- Rock Hall Yacht Club Sailing School

- US Sailing Association

- West River Sailing Foundation

Support the Spirit of Nicholas Sailing Fund

Support the Spirit of Nicholas Sailing Fund

Many people like you are making tax smart donations with appreciated stocks and bonds, qualified charitable distributions(QCD) from an IRA, or a variety of planned gifts. For more information, please email John@CFAAC.org or call 410.280-1102 x103.