The TK Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members, Captain Kuba Szymanski and Jeff Schaffer, to the Board of Directors of its trustee, the TK Trust Company Limited. The TK Foundation is the only client of the TK Trust Company Limited and both are herein referred to as the TK Foundation.

“They come on board at an exciting time and their combined experience will be instrumental as we continue to grow this strong funding vehicle for youth development and maritime programs,” said Arthur Coady, Chairman. “Their appointments reflect our ongoing efforts to pro‐actively fund programs that are aligned with the values of the late Torben Karlshoej. We are passionate about the maritime industry, the well‐being of seafarers and committed to youth development.”

Captain Szymanski is currently Secretary General at InterManager, the international trade association for the ship management industry. With a Masters Degree from Maritime University of Szczecin, 17 years experience onboard in many roles including Master and 12 years in 3rd party ship management, Captain Szymanski brings a unique mix of skills and experience to the Foundation. Captain Szymanski lectures on Risk Management, Information Management, and Management of Change in the International Business School on the Isle of Man.

Jeff Schaffer is Vice President and Market Leader, Southern California, at Enterprise Community Partners. He brings a significant background in grant program management, having served as Assistant Vice President for grant programs at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, where he managed a $60 million grant portfolio, and as Associate Director at Beyond Shelter and at Shelter Partnership in Los Angeles. Mr. Schaffer holds a Master’s Degree in public administration from the University of Southern California, where he is an adjunct associate professor at the Price School of Public Policy.

The newly appointed Board members are welcomed by current Board members Arthur F. Coady and Susan Karlshoej, and Foundation Administrator, Esther Blair. The new members’ experience in financial and risk management, and managing community partnerships and grant programs will complement the TK Foundation in achieving its purpose.

About the TK Foundation

The TK Foundation is an independent, private, grant-making foundation supporting non-profit maritime and youth development programs. It was established in honor of J. Torben Karlshoej, founder of the Teekay Shipping Group (now Teekay Corporation). Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation’s grants of approximately $26 million have helped provide valuable research, health care, facilities, education and other development opportunities for a variety of non‐profit organizations and individuals.

Information Contact

Susan Karlshoej
Program Officer, The TK Foundation
+1 (242) 502‐8935 (Bahamas)
susan@tkfoundation.bs
www.tkfoundation.bs

The TK Foundation is pleased to announce the approval of eight grants totalling nearly $2 million. The TK Foundation is a strong funding vehicle for maritime programs and youth development. Its maritime grant-making program is proactive, inviting maritime organizations to submit requests for funding in specific areas of interest to the Foundation.

In keeping with its focus on supporting non-profit organizations and programs that improve the maritime realm, The TK Foundation has granted eight awards.

The World Maritime University (WMU) is a centre of excellence for maritime education and research, operating under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The TK Foundation has provided fellowships to eligible students for three years, and will grant $180,000 to support four fellowships for the upcoming intake year.

CNA is a non-profit research organization that provides research and analysis to inform the work of public sector leaders. It operates the Institute for Public Research and the Center for Naval Analyses. A grant of nearly $176,000 will support research that explores the link between illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing and piracy, and other maritime security challenges in Africa.

The International Trade Education Program connects professionals from the maritime industry with educators and parents of economically underserved public high school students.  Its grant of $120,000 will be applied to the Small Learning Community Academies that introduce students to careers in maritime, trade, transportation and logistics.

The Nautical Institute represents maritime professionals involved in the control of sea-going ships. A grant of $100,000 over five years will support their participation in the IMO’s eNavigation strategy sessions, helping advance the communications technology used by ship masters and onshore personnel for shipping safety.

The Maritime Aquarium hosts an extensive program of marine science and environmental education. A grant of $500,000 will support construction of a catamaran research vessel to replace its 30-year old ‘floating classroom’ that is used for marine life study cruises.

Mercy Ships provides ship-based medical services around the world. The Africa Mercy hospital ship provides medical care, surgeries, training and preventive health strategies to communities in Africa. Since 2005, TK Foundation grants have supported its Technical Training Fund (TTF) to ensure the crew’s training meets international shipping standards. The TK Foundation will continue this support the TTF with a $225,750 grant.

Marine Society & Sea Cadets provides life-changing nautical adventure for young people through the Sea Cadets Corps (a civilian organization), together with personal and professional development opportunities for seafarers with the Marine Society. A $388,000 grant from the TK Foundation will challenge other potential donors to help build a new flagship for its sailing programs.

The Seafarers International Research Centre conducts research on seafarers with an emphasis on issues of occupational health and safety, and contemporary social debates. A grant of approximately $290,000 over three years will enable its research arm, the Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust Research Unit, to study seafarer experiences and attitudes regarding mandatory equipment.

To learn more about each organization, please visit their respective websites:  www.wmu.se, www.cna.org, www.itepinc.org, www.nautisnt.org, www.maritimeaquarium.org, www.mercyships.org, www.ms-sc.org, and www.sirc.cf.ac.uk.

“These grants have allowed the Foundation to reach out to a diverse range of organizations that support maritime initiatives and seafarer well-being,” said Susan Karlshoej, Program Officer, The TK Foundation.

“This research is of great importance to regional and international efforts to combat piracy and other maritime threats within African waters and to Africans themselves, many of whom depend on the fishing industry for livelihood and fish stocks for sustenance,” said CNA analyst Julia McQuaid, project director.

“The generosity of the TK Foundation made it possible for me to enroll at WMU, which has given me vast exposure to the globalization that is taking place today. This has totally changed my perception of life. After I graduate I will need to keep track of the new trends that keep coming up in the industry to improve provision of services in my local sector and facilitate trade for the socio-economic benefit of all,” said Tumaini Namoya, Kenya, Class of 2012, MSc Maritime Affairs, Shipping & Port Management.

About the TK Foundation

The TK Foundation is an independent, private, grant-making foundation supporting non-profit maritime and youth development programs. It was established in honor of J. Torben Karlshoej, founder of the Teekay Shipping Group (now Teekay Corporation). Since 2002, The TK Foundation has made grants of over $26 million in the areas of youth development and the maritime sector, providing valuable research, health care, facilities, education and other opportunities for a variety of non-profit organizations and individuals.

Information Contact

Susan Karlshoej
Program Officer, The TK Foundation
+1 (242) 502‐8935 (Bahamas)
susan@tkfoundation.bs
www.tkfoundation.bs