Another Success Story

Courtesy of Walter Cronkite, ©Copyright 2000, All Rights Reserved

"Walter Cronkite's Yacht Donation Helps Troubled Teens Sail To Success"

History and Highlights:

Walter Cronkite, (repeatedly voted the most trusted man in America), gave hope and his yacht to some teens who have not always been trusted. Kids from the Norfolk Marine Institute and the Tidewater Environmental Program helped bring the boat down from Annapolis and enjoyed a day of cleaning and sailing aboard Mr. Cronkite's beloved custom built 48 foot Sunward "WYNTJE".

Courtesy of Norfolk Marine Institute, One of Associated Marine Institutes, ©Copyright 2000, All Rights Reserved

The parent organization, Associated Marine Institute, AMI, founded in 1969, has as its mission

"to positively impact the lives of the youth we serve using the sea and its traditions to teach teamwork, discipline, respect for others, and pride in one's accomplishments. Emphasis is on academic excellence and community service". They do it "one kid at a time"...

and continue to support and track graduates for three years, significantly reducing criminal act recidivism.

In 1993 President Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno visited the St. Petersburg AMI program and stated,

"These programs are giving young people a chance to take their future back, a chance to understand that there is good inside them."

There are AMI boat programs in Florida, Texas, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, New Mexico, and the Cayman Islands. AMI provides opportunities for owners to allow the program to use their boats or to donate them outright. Contact information for AMI appears at the bottom of this article.

Outcomes/Results:

• Cronkite's boat donated to the Norfolk AMI program for troubled teens left a legacy that inspires others to do the same.
• Associated Marine Institute made the yacht donation easy and effective.
• Donation gave kids all along the delivery route a chance to skipper a famous boat and witness the benefits of giving back to the community.

Acknowledgments:

• Walter and Betsy Cronkite for leaving a legacy in their lifetime that offers opportunities for troubled youth that otherwise they would not have had.
• Buddy Payne, AMI Marine Specialist for building the relationship of trust that opened the door to the boat donation.
• Chris Burns, for making the donation effortless, high impact, and flawless.
• Al Gundry, InterYacht, Annapolis, MD for continuing to support AMI by making the initial introduction to Mr. Cronkite.
• Mike Ashford, Owner of McGarvey's Saloon, Annapolis, MD, for being a mentor to cadets and supporting the credibility of AMI and its staff.

Reflections From Givers & Receivers:

Walter Cronkite - Donor:

"It looked like a group that was really making a difference and it [AMI] could really use the vessel. Rather than selling the Wyntje, I decided to give it new energy and new life by donating it to young people."

Chris Burns, Executive Director of Norfolk AMI:

"He [Walter Cronkite] liked our institution and what it stands for."

Robert, Youth Participant:

"I can't believe a person like him would let us use his boat and then give it to us."

Kenny, 16 year old participant in the Norfolk Boatcamp program:

"At a detention home, time would go by easier or smoother, but would it help you? Here, it makes a responsible person out of you."

Buddy Payne, AMI Marine Specialist:

"It's important to take the time to understand the givers' motivation and to structure a giving opportunity that's a good match--a win/win for the giver and the charity."

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