JGASP :: About The Foundation

Justin "Judd" Goldman was seventeen years old when he suffered a disabling bone disease. After realizing that there were few sports that he could participate in, he discovered sailing. During the next fifty-eight years he competed successfully in many races throughout the world, including over twenty-five Chicago-Mackinac Races, a 333-mile challenge from Chicago to Mackinac Island, Michigan. He founded an Olympic one-design class of sailboats in Chicago, the Dragon class. In 1989, at the age of seventy-five, Judd passed away at a Naples, Florida boatyard.

In 1990, Judd's wife, Sliv, son Peter and daughter Judy established the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation (JGASF) as a public/private partnership with the Chicago Park District. Today, the adaptive sailing program consists of eight Freedom Independence 20, six Sonar, and four 2.4 meter sailboats. Over one thousand participants experience the joy and independence of sailing each year. The JGASF, in partnership with the Chicago Yacht Club, is very proud to have been chosen for over ten years by US Sailing as the host for the annual national disabled double and single-handed sailing championship, the Independence Cup.

In 2001, the Foundation embarked on a pilot program with the Chicago Park District designed to teach sailing to Chicago inner-city youth. Ten 7'7" Vanguard Pram sailboats were purchased for use at the beautifully renovated, city water-fed lagoons. Offering an unequaled environment and an extremely rare experience for a big city recreational program, this unique approach brings the program to the neighborhood rather than the neighborhood to the program. The goal for this inner-city youth program is identical to our current mission...helping people to achieve self-esteem and independence.

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