The Edgartown Yacht Club (EYC) is hosting a community leader breakfast on Friday to introduce a scholarship fund in honor of former Edgartown Harbormaster Charlie Blair, who served in the position for 30 years.
The Charlie Blair EYC Legacy Fund is a fund for Island youth and residents committed to settling on the Island year-round and serving the community in fields like maritime and waterfront operations, public safety and first responder roles, trades and technical careers, and community service and Island care.
The scholarship is funded by the Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation (MVCF) and gives preference to “Island-first” youth and residents who demonstrate leadership, community involvement, and a desire to build a future on Martha’s Vineyard. The fund was first established after Blair’s retirement last year by EYC Commodore Andrew Smith.
EYC Trustee and co-chair of the Charlie Blair Legacy Fund Katie Kidder said that Blair was chosen as the scholarship’s namesake because of his strong encouragement to Vineyard youth that they live and work on the Island.
The scholarship’s financial support can include coverage of college tuition, trade or vocational school, professional certifications, or other career pathways that contribute to the long-term strength of the Martha’s Vineyard community.
The breakfast starts at 8 am with a colors and cannon salute on the club’s dockside area stringpiece, followed by a speech by Blair, and a Q and A session with MVCF program manager Elizabeth Bennet to provide information about the scholarship and generate ideas about connecting community leaders with prospective applicants.