The Mariners’ Endowments
Endowment gifts create a lasting legacy at The Mariners’, providing the financial foundation for our mission to connect people to the world’s waters and one another.
We are grateful for the donors whose generosity created these lasting endowments in support of The Mariners’ mission.
General Endowments
Named Funds under one of our three General Endowments combine to provide enduring support for our general Conservation, Education, and Mariners’ Lake efforts.
The Mariners’ Conservation Endowment
The Crofton Diving Corporation Fund In Honor of Juan and Bunny Crofton
The James Earl Jewell Fund
The George A. Sawyer Family Fund
The Mariners’ Education Endowment
The Marvin V. “Bill” Craft, Jr. Fund
The Angie Newman Johnson, Marjorie Smith Charles, Oscar Frommel Smith Fund
The Mariners’ Lake Endowment
The Thousands of Smiles Fund In Memory of Dr. Daniel Mark Babcock
Keith and Greta VanderVennet Fund
Individual Endowments
These endowments support the conservation and stewardship of The Mariners’ Cultural Heritage and Living Collections, ensuring that these collections remain safe and accessible for generations to come.
Cultural Heritage Conservation
The Bronze Door Society Endowment
The Kay and Conway H. Sheild, III Fund
Art Conservation
The John B. Hightower Endowment
The Dr. John J. McMullen Endowment
Small Craft Conservation
The Judith and Curry C. (Chris) Hall, III Fund
The T. Parker Host, Jr. Endowment
The E.B. Peter and Caddy R. Meekins Fund
Newport News Shipbuilding
The Jennifer Boykin Family Endowment
The Newport News Shipbuilding Endowment
Archives
The Herbert M. and Norma D. Beazley Chair
Ifland Center for Exploration
The Endowment for the Peter W. Ifland Center for Exploration
Library
The Anne Heider Baker Fund
Public Access and Community Engagement
These endowments provide the local, national, and global communities we serve with broad and meaningful access to and engagement with our Cultural Heritage and Living Collections.
Access
The Batten Foundation Endowment for $1 Admission
The Noland Trail Endowment
Education
The E. Robert and Gabrielle C. Denmead Fund
The E. Robert and Gabrielle C. Denmead Fund reflects a lifelong belief in the power of history to educate, inspire, and connect generations.
Robert Denmead’s love of maritime history began in childhood, when his father introduced him to sailing on the Hudson River. Sailing had long been part of his family’s story. His great-grandfather, Billings, served as a crew member aboard the Columbia and Defender during the America’s Cup races, creating a family legacy that fostered Robert’s enduring appreciation for the sea and its history. Robert especially cherished the America’s Cup Gallery, a meaningful connection to his family’s maritime heritage.
Robert and Gabrielle shared a deep curiosity about the past. They believed that understanding history helps us make better decisions for the future, ensuring that the lessons of yesterday are not forgotten or repeated. They shared fond memories of the Crabtree Gallery’s intricate ship models, the Small Craft Center, historic figureheads, and the Golden Eagle. Together, they believed that introducing children to these experiences helps cultivate curiosity, appreciation, and a lifelong love of learning.
The Denmeads established this endowment to ensure that the Museum continues to inspire discovery and provide enriching experiences for young people for years to come. Today, the E. Robert and Gabrielle C. Denmead Fund stands as a lasting tribute to Robert’s life and to the shared vision he and Gabrielle embraced: that history matters, and that by preserving and sharing it, we enrich the future.
The Rona Mound and Erwin B. Drucker Fund
The Kenneth A. and Patricia A. Hall Fund
The Henry and Sally Holzbach Fund
The Jennifer J. Celesia and B. Ashton Hudgins Fund
The Laura and Jerrold Miller Fund
The Petters Family Fund
The Randolph D. Rouse Chair
The Scull Family Fund
Public Programs
The Ann and Thomas N. Hunnicutt Endowment
Infrastructure For Impact
These endowments invest in the people, systems, and facilities that sustain The Mariners’ operations and enable our mission to thrive today and into the future.
Internships and Fellowships
The John D. Broadwater Internship and Fellowship Endowment
The Ted Mittler and Marcia Liebel Career Exploration Fund
The Harold S. Sniffen Internship
Museum Leadership
The John R. Lawson Fund
If you are interested in learning more about The Mariners’ Endowments, please contact Sherri Fosdick at (757) 591-7730 or [email protected].