SAVE the DATE: September 25, 2009, 4:00 pm PST St. Regis Resort Monarch Beach Golf Links Club 19 Lawn One Monarch Beach Resort Dana Point, CA 92629 Please call 949-496-2274 x412 for more information and availability. Click here to read the press release

Click here to view pictures from Chopper Drop 2008 event
Click here to read the full article from the 2008 event

A Message from the Sand Dollar President

  Dear Friends,

This year the Sand Dollar Guild proudly celebrates our past 20 years of success in raising over $1,000,000.00 for the Ocean Institute.

As I reflect on the impact and accomplishments the Sand Dollar Guild and the Ocean Institute has had on the lives of so many children, I realize the Sand Dollars are just as passionate today as they were 20 years ago.

What started out as a group of women with the foresight to see not just a boat in the harbor, but a boat in which a Tall Ship grew, They looked through the eyes of children, bought a ship, formed the Sand Dollar Guild and here we are today.

This is a perfect opportunity to thank Our Community, Sponsors, Friends and Families who have supported the Sand Dollar's fundraising efforts for the past 20 years. Our events give us the chance to share our appreciation for everything you do and helped us accomplish.

I would like to invite you to join us at our 2009 fundraiser. We are now selling tickets for the annual Golf 'n' Drop. Our 6th Annual Sand Dollar Guild Chopper Drop for Education is brought together this year with the 15th Annual Ocean Institute Golf Tournament. Please join us for this monumental event.

Mark your Calendars for Friday, September 25th at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Links, Dana Point, CA, for Golf 'n' Drop!

We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Thanks for stopping by,
Marsha Ilg

"We have not inherited the ocean from our parents...
we are borrowing it from our children."

About the Sand Dollar Guild

The Sand Dollar Guild is a fund raising organization benefiting the Ocean Institute in Dana Point Harbor. The Institute is known for its hands-on marine science, environmental education and maritime history programs.

More than 100,000 K-12 students and 6,000 teachers annually participate in the Institute's 61 award-winning, immersion style programs. It's a wonderful place for children to learn about the wonders of the sea, its history and to respect and protect its environment.

Purpose

The Sand Dollar Guild is dedicated to furthering the educational goals of the Ocean Institute through fundraising and community awareness.

The Ocean Institute is a non-profit community-based marine education facility exploring new and creative ways of teaching and learning about the ocean. Nationally recognized science and maritime history programs host over 100,000 students per year from throughout Southern California and surrounding states.

History

In the summer of 1988, a group from the South Orange County beach communities boarded the tall ship Pilgrim to discuss the importance of the Pilgrim and its educational programs to the children of Orange County . This group shared a strong bond to perpetuate the history and romance of the Pilgrim and marine science education. They decided to establish the SAND DOLLAR GUILD as a fundraising group of the Ocean Institute with the purpose of paying off the mortgage on the Pilgrim.

The Sand Dollar Guild celebrated the accomplishment of its first goal at a mortgage burning party for the Pilgrim, on May 28, 1990.

Their second major achievement was the donation of over $250,000 between 1992 and 1996 to the Ocean Institute for educational programs and equipment.

Present and Future

Current sponsorship includes the purchase of a new van for the Ocean in Motion program, the yard arm exhibit at the Historic Maritime Center, the block and tackle exhibit, raising $150,000 in the next 5 years to help fund the new Ocean Education Center and other special projects.

The dedication of the Historic Maritime Center took place in 1997. The new Ocean Education contemplates a world-class marine education center offering unique learning opportunities for school students and the visiting public, challenging each to reach for greater understanding of the world around them.

Board of Directors

President
Marsha Ilg

Vice President
Terri Habecker

Treasurer
Betty Wilkes

Recording Secretary
Barbara Deubert

Corresponding Secretary
Barbara Guzzetta and Beth Apodaca

Liaison for Website
Marilyn Witt

Membership
Jody Vaughn and Pat MacDonald

Publicity
Stacia Valentine

Hospitality
Terri Barnum and Nancy Nimmo

Parliamentarian
Tim Shuey

Grant Writer
Carol Honeywell

WAYS and MEANS
Jo Boyd

Member at Large
Ann Brown and Sybil Carey