History
CELEBRATING MORE THAN 20 YEARS
In 2000, New York Yacht Club Commodore George “Dooie” Isdale commandeered a group of sailors who shared his vision of supporting promising athletes of all ages without widely-available resources to assist with their pursuits.
It was from this collective passion that Commodore Isdale and his associates established the Sailing Foundation of New York (SFNY).
In the Foundation’s first five years, donations exceeded $2 million with distributions to more than 70 eligible recipients. To this day, the Foundation has raised more than $10 million for 1,000+ athletes and organizations – 80 of whom are currently active in the program.
The Sailing Foundation of New York is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the support and growth of education, competition and sporting activities in the sailing community. For athletes, the Foundation provides much-needed guidance and financial support as they navigate their emergence in the sport.
100% of all SFNY contributions are allocated to directly support eligible organizations and athletes, with no administrative or operating expenses funded by donors.
Meet the Board
Thomas L. Stark, President
Tom, a co-founder, has been a member of the Board of Directors of SFNY since its inception, having also served a previous two-year term as President that lasted ten+ years.
He is the Chairman of Port-a-Brace, Inc. of Vermont and is an independent investor. Tom remains an avid sailor and yachtsman, having raced a series of yachts called RUSH. Having recently moved on from his custom Grand Banks Aleutian 72, CRONOS, but still enjoying his Jupiter 43 ZEUS, Tom is exploring new adventures around the globe.
George M. Isdale, Founder
George is a past Commodore of the New York Yacht Club, the American Yacht Club and the Storm Trysail Club.
He has served in numerous volunteer positions in marine related causes, including Chairman of the Seaman’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey and Chairman of the International Yacht Restoration School.
Mr. Isdale is a retired Financial Advisor and has been involved in financial asset management and planning for over 45 years. Affectionately known as “Dooie,” he resides in Narragansett, Rhode Island.
James J. Cummiskey
Jamie is GVP at Gartner Inc., a leading global research and advisory services firm. He is a member of both the New York Yacht Club and the Indian Harbor Yacht Club, where he has served on the Board and as Fleet Captain. Jamie was an early mobilizing force for introducing club-owned Ideal 18s at Western Long Island Sound clubs, with the early start of “Focus on Sailing” and Ideal 18s at Indian Harbor. Jamie is an avid blue water sailor, one design and team racer, with 10 Bermuda Races (not planning to miss one going forward) and several North American championships. Jamie, an All-American sailor at Brown University, lives with his wife Joy and some of his five kids in Darien, CT.
Austin Fragomen
Austin is Chairman Emeritus of Fragomen, a trusted law firm founded in 1951 focused on immigration around the globe. Over the course of his career in federal immigration and nationality law, Austin served as assistant counsel, subcommittee on immigration, citizenship and international law, U.S. House of Representatives, and as an adjunct professor of law at New York University Law School. Fragomen enjoys competitive sailing on his TP52 Interlodge, as well as a Botin 44 for New England regattas.
John Hele
John currently serves as Chair of Bermuda-based Resolution Re Ltd, having previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer. He has held various senior positions in the insurance industry for firms including MetLife, Inc, ING and Arch Capital following several years in investment banking. Campaigning at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, American Yacht Club and the New York Yacht Club, Hele has enjoyed many years on this Swan 42 Daring, IC37 Vigilant, Etchells 22 Renegade, and foiling trimaran Thunder and Lightning. On land, John and his family spend their time between Bermuda, New York and Rhode Island.
George Hinman, Jr.
George Hinman is legendary for many things in the sailing community, perhaps most importantly for his commitment to Corinthian competition and his life-long dedication to youth sailing. Known for his time crewed with Bus Mosbacher on Intrepid, the successful defender of the America’s Cup in 1967 and with Bob McCullough aboard Valiant during the 1970 Defense Trials, George estimates he’s sailed in more than 50 boats. From Blue Jays and Lightnings alongside his father, through 12 Metres in the mid ‘60s, (American Eagle, Intrepid and Valiant – three campaigns that consumed almost a decade), he completed an Army deployment in Vietnam and returned to sailing, this time in bigger boats with the Conspiracy syndicate. Quiet, passionate and a true competitor, George has six America’s Cup campaigns under his belt in various roles.
George spends a significant amount of time on The Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County in Vero Beach. What started out as a handful of Optis has turned into the largest 420 youth group in FL, an adaptive sailing program of more than 20 sailors and a grant from the Siebel sailing program. This program caters to all nationalities, income levels and skills.
Dorothy M. Mosko
Dorothy has been involved with the Sailing Foundation since 2009 through her involvement with the Golden Spinnaker fundraisers. She is an active member of the New York Yacht Club and the Indian Harbor Yacht Club. Dorothy works in financial services.
Arthur J. Santry III
Art Santry is an Executive Vice Chair with Cushman & Wakefield, where he currently co-chairs the Legal Sector Advisory Group and is a member of the firm’s 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit Practice Group. He is an active committee member and Trustee of the New York Yacht Club, having enjoyed various appointments and projects over the years. Art has participated in many races and cruises, including 15+ Bermuda races, one Transpac race, five Queens Cup wins and the 1977 America’s Cup trials on Independence under his belt. He resides in the Washington, DC metro area and Newport, RI.
