Keeping them afloat

Christine Carrillo

NEWPORT-MESA -- The shipshape 24-foot tugboat Superior will soon pull

away from its benefactor to teach students the ways of the ocean.

The first hand-built boat in Newport Beach since World War II will be

donated to the El Viento Foundation and the School of Sailing and

Seamanship at Orange Coast College in a private reception tonight.

Starting the project a few years ago with his now deceased wife, Mike

Craig said he was compelled to continue his work not only as a memorial

to her but also in the hopes of providing young people with opportunities

to venture outside their communities.

“To see the growth of the children and how they have a broader view,”

Craig said. “They have more confidence, and they’re much better rounded.”

Witnessing such growth has been a great reward, not only for Craig but

also for many others involved in the foundation.

“We wanted to make a difference, and we didn’t want to do it writing

checks,” said Jack Shaw, the co-founder and chairman of El Viento.

With a mission geared toward providing children and young adults with

opportunities for success, Shaw and his wife, Ellen Shockro, who is the

organization’s co-founder and executive director, decided to use sailing

and swimming -- as well as their commitment -- to education to reach

their goal.

“I’m a sailor, and I thought that by adopting a program I’m interested

in I would stick with it,” Shaw said. “And I was right.”And many others

stuck it out with him.

Zayda Garcia, director of El Viento, has been an integral part of the

foundation for two years and has witnessed the effect it has had on the

children involved.

With the generous donations and devotion of people such as Craig,

Garcia said the children, 20% of whom are immigrants, will receive the

same opportunities as students of much greater means.

“It’s important to know that someone cares,” she said. “We’re giving

an opportunity, and it’s their choice to do what they want with it.”

Most of the students who were in the first class that went through the

foundation five years ago have developed a mentality that college is

their next step.

“If you’re supported by people that care and want you to succeed, then

you will,” Garcia said.

The foundation, which hopes to aid students in becoming successful, is

now focusing on making the foundation itself a lasting success.

As a member of the foundation’s board of directors, Craig holds high

hopes for its future accomplishments.

“We’re trying to make it so the foundation will be financially stable,

so it will be a self-perpetuating foundation,” Craig said.

In its attempt to do so, the foundation has placed its endowment into

the Orange County Community Foundation, which now serves as the umbrella

of El Viento, said its president, Shelley Hoss.

The key to the boat will be handed over to Shaw during a private

reception honoring Craig tonight.

“This event is going to be a celebration of Mike, whose involvement

has been instrumental,” Garcia said. “Without him, I think El Viento

would be very different.”

Craig holds a more humble view.

The best reward is “knowing that the boat has found a home and that

it’s found a purpose and that it’s going to help the kids,” he said.