Get More Oregon Youth Sailing!

See the OYSF Sailing Film Festival Short-Film Competition


THE NEWS


about oysf


OYSF aims to keep sailing alive and active in Oregon by making it accessible to young people, with a focus on those who otherwise would not have the opportunity to be on the water. The programs we support connect youth to the joy of sailing and the life skills and confidence it helps build.

Founded in 2007, Oregon Youth Sailing Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that establishes programs and makes grants for the support of youth dinghy sailing in Oregon. OYSF succeeds by accomplishing its mission to “get more Oregon youth sailing” from all walks of life.

As of 2024, OYSF has raised over $700,000 and funded boats, sails, facilities, equipment, travel and free community sailing programs throughout Oregon for the African Youth Community Organization, Blueprint Foundation, Camp ELSO, Center for African Immigrants and Refugees, Coalition of Black Men, Columbia Gorge Racing Association, Fulbright Program, Girls, Inc., Gorge Junior Sailing, Gorge Sailing Team, Eugene Yacht Club, Imagine Possibilities, iUrban Teen, Lewis & Clark College, Metropolitan Family Services, Neighborhood House, Oregon Boating Foundation, Oregon Corinthian Sailing Association, Oregon Maritime Museum, Oregon State University, Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center & Rosemary Anderson High School, Portland State University, RiversWest Small Craft Center, Sail2Change, Sea Scouts, Self Enhancement, Inc., Ukrainian Foundation, University of Oregon, Willamette Sailing Club, Wind & Oar Boat School, Yaquina Bay Yacht Club, and more...


OYSF’s current major projects include:

Community Sailing Program provides free sail and job training to teens in the PDX area with limited river access

Sustainable Sailing Campaign for fleet expansion throughout Oregon

Collegiate Sailing Fund sustains college sailing in Oregon by supporting coaching and program costs

Equipment Fund accepts cash and in-kind donations to provide equipment for youth sailing programs



Partners

the programs we currently support


the team

the ones who keep this boat afloat
Ashley Lund
Ashley Lund
President
Ashley grew up constantly in and around water, but it wasn’t until later in life that she first picked up a tiller. From there, she quickly jumped into racing both dinghy and keelboats, started volunteering with WSC’s High School sailing team, and [see full bio…]
Matt Sprick
Matt Sprick
Treasurer
CEO at Ancora Publishing; an educational publishing company dedicated to changing the face of education. Commodore at Eugene Yacht Club. Wavelength racer, junior sailing supporter and non-profit enthusiast.
Woody Blackford
Woody Blackford
Secretary
Woody Blackford acted as OYSF President from March 2015 until November 2019. Woody is a very active boater both sail and power. He grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and started boating “at birth”. Woody became one of Canada’s top youth laser sailors in his teen’s. [see full bio…]
Dean Yioulos
Dean Yioulos
Board Member
Dean’s background has been with leading global professional services firms providing a broad range of skills around risk and management solutions. […see full bio]
Michael Rees
Michael Rees
Board Member
Michael Rees is a past commodore of Willamette Sailing Club and a founding board member and current president of OYSF. He started sailing on a Flying Scot in Texas at age 9. From 1984 to 1989, he taught sailing at Camp Sealth on Vashon Island. […see full bio]
Sara Morrissey
Sara Morrissey
Board Member
Sara Morrissey was introduced to sailing at a young age in Astoria, Oregon where she grew up. She spent many summer days on her family’s C&C “The Red Snapper”, battling the waves on the mouth of the Columbia. Years later, [see full bio…]
Tavie Keo
Tavie Keo
Board Member
I’m a Program Manager at iUrban Teen with a passion for helping BIPOC youth in career exploration and education. I graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology, where my love for helping others and learning about different cultures truly blossomed. [see full bio…]
Matthew Berger
Matthew Berger
Executive Director
OYSF Executive Director Matthew Berger grew up cruising the east coast with his family and began racing dinghies at the age of 8 in the Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound.  [see full bio…]

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