Thompson Island’s donors come from all walks of life, and have plenty of reasons for joining our family.

Some are Outward Bound alumni who have been permanently transformed by their own courses, and want to give back. Others have an unwavering belief in the mission of a program like Connecting with Courage. And still others may want to invest in an organization that connects urban youth with the environment. We are deeply thankful for all of their support.

Below, a few friends share why Thompson Island means so much to them.

Sally Hurlbut, Islander since 1996
“Many things impressed me about Thompson Island and two things really hooked me. First was the work with girls through the girls-only Connecting with Courage course. As a nurse, I have too often witnessed one of the saddest results when girls don’t care enough about themselves—teen pregnancy. Connecting with Courage seems to make a big difference to girls’ confidence.

“The second hook was the sailing program. When I saw the ‘pulling boats’ used by Outward Bound (based on traditional lifeboat design), I could see how effective these boats must be for teaching leadership, trust, teamwork and perseverance.”

Shelley Appel, donor since 2003
“Thompson Island’s mission is well focused and consistent with the broad objectives of Outward Bound. I’ve seen and heard participants in all three areas of Thompson Island’s activities. In all cases, they have been extending themselves and gaining both as a group and as individuals.”

Frank Challant and Bonnie Hershey, donors since 1996
“We were introduced to Thompson Island as alumni of Outward Bound in Maine. We receivd an invitation to come and see the tall ships from the island. We had to ask around and look up maps of Boston Harbor to see where we were headed. And then, our initial encounter with the island opened our eyes to the impact Thompson Island Outward Bound has on our Boston youth. Not only that, but it’s right in our own back yard!

“We got involved in Thompson Island because of our love of children, of the sea and boats, and of experiential learning in all its forms. We have been very lucky in our lives and it is now time for us to give back to our community. And yet, every time we visit Thompson Island we are the ones who are receiving the gift from this hidden treasure in Boston Harbor. Just taking the short ride from the city gives us the opportunity to ‘purge the brain’ and renew our spirit. And each visit strengthens our commitment to an extraordinary experience.”

For more information, please call Julia Fitz-Randolph at 617-328-3900 x105 or e-mail development@thompsonisland.org.