Origin of Pride of Baltimore, Inc.
Pride of Baltimore, Inc. was founded to manage the operation of Pride of Baltimore, a reproduction 19th century Baltimore Clipper topsail schooner, which the City of Baltimore built as an Inner Harbor attraction in 1976-1977. The City managed the vessel for the first two years of her sailing life.
Soon realizing that the ship could travel further and touch more people than originally imagined, in 1980 Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer turned to the business community to create a Board of Directors and a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization to operate the vessel. The new Board took on that responsibility and aggressively expanded the mission and the voyages of Pride of Baltimore in the following years. The ship sailed over 150,000 miles in nine years as a Goodwill Ambassador for the City of Baltimore. On May 14, 1986, Pride of Baltimore capsized and sank in a freak squall, 240 miles north of Puerto Rico. The Captain and three of eleven crew members were lost.
Following the loss of the original Pride, it was evident that the citizens of Baltimore and Maryland wanted to build a replacement vessel. Funds for construction of Pride of Baltimore II were raised in the corporate and private sectors, and the new ship was launched in 1988.
Pride of Baltimore, Inc. Today
In recognition of the evolution of the vessel's mission, ownership was transferred to the Maryland Port Administration, an agency of the Maryland Department or Transportation. However, the vessel continues to be managed by Pride of Baltimore, Inc., the non-profit established in 1980.
Policy of the organization is set by a Board of Directors - a diverse group of talented, community-minded and community-involved individuals who oversee fundraising for Pride II's continued operations. The day-to-day operation of the vessel is managed by a small staff headquartered in the World Trade Center in Baltimore, also home of the Maryland Port Administration. The staff includes:
- Executive Director, Linda E. Christenson, Esq.
- Development Manager, Janet Caslow
- Public Relations and Marketing Manager, Missy Berger
- Administrative Assistant, Jane Wilcoxson
- Captain Jan Miles
The staff raises revenues for Pride of Baltimore II's continued operations; plans the itinerary for the ship; works with the corporate community in arranging economic development opportunities; fosters positive media relations and coverage; and coordinates educational projects.
Organization