Donation could help program stay afloat

Jeff Benson

Tom Tolbert and his nonprofit organization for the disabled were

pillaged weeks ago by an unknown thief who stole the eight-horsepower

outboard motor right out of the program’s only functional J-24

sailboat.

But thanks to some help from a Costa Mesa resident involved with a

similar cause, Sailing Fascination may be on the verge of re-hoisting

the program’s sails.

Ward Latimer, who runs sailing instruction programs through

Newport Beach’s Recreation Management Services, met with Tolbert for

the first time Tuesday and cut him a check for $200. The amount was

all Latimer said he could afford.

“Tom’s a great guy and what an amazing program he’s got,” Latimer

said. “There just aren’t enough programs like that around. There are

a ton of people who can use his services.”

But Latimer didn’t stop there. After opening up his checkbook, he

offered his empathy and expertise.

“He gave me some insight into this government buy-in program

working with Mercury Engines, where, if you’re a nonprofit you can

buy a new outboard motor for less than the dealer cost,” Tolbert

said. “You can get a $2,500 motor for around $1,200. I appreciate

Ward’s donation, but he’s also turning out to be a nice resource.

He’s worth his weight in gold.”

Latimer also said he felt confident that he could recruit at least

10 associates to chip in $100 apiece, so Tolbert could come up with

the full amount and jump-start the program quickly. He then offered

to help Tolbert mount the motor when he receives it. That sounded

particularly good to Tolbert because he, like some of his students,

is physically disabled.

Tolbert suffered an aneurysm 10 years ago.

“Giving us a nickel would’ve been great, but he’s gone a long way

toward helping us,” Tolbert said.

Latimer used to be an instructor for America’s True, a sailing

program at Lake Merced near San Francisco for financially

underprivileged children. The program suffered an even worse fate a

few years ago, when all of its sailing equipment was stolen from a

nearby trailer, he said. The local community rallied to recover most

of the losses, which, Latimer said, inspired him to do the same.

“Tom’s taking kids that may or may not have financial challenges,

but they’re definitely physically challenged,” Latimer said. “What

can you do without a motor? You can’t paddle.”

After filing a police report for the stolen motor in late July,

Tolbert said he hasn’t heard anything about it, and added that he

doesn’t want to wait through a lengthy insurance process to restart

the sailing program.

“Unless the engine ends up on my doorstep, I don’t think we’ll

hear about it or notice it,” Tolbert said. “I doubt it’s a priority

of the police department.”