GARRISON, NY– Hudson River Sloop Clearwater will host its first ever fundraising gala on Sunday, November 15th, 2015 at The Garrison in Garrison, NY from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The gala will honor long time friends and contributors to Clearwater, Annie and Fred Osborn III of Garrison.

The Osborns will be presented with the inaugural Spirit of the Hudson award, which has been established to recognize and honor extraordinary contributions to the protection and celebration of the Hudson River and its watershed.

Musical performances will feature seven-time Grammy® winner Paul Winter and The Judith Tulloch Band. There will also be live and silent auctions featuring unique items such as a scale model of the sloop Clearwater. The master of ceremonies will be Radio Woodstock, 100.1 WDST, morning host, Jimmy Buff.

Tickets are available at www.clearwater.org or through the Clearwater office in Beacon, NY.

In announcing plans for the gala, Clearwater executive director, Peter Gross said, “This event comes at a critical time in Clearwater’s history, when we face new levels of financial challenges and exciting new opportunities ahead.”

Funds raised at the gala will support the restoration of America’s environmental flagship, Clearwater. The Clearwater, which first sailed in 1969, is in the midst of a multi-year Coast Guard-mandated restoration of the ship’s hull, with the final phase to be completed in 2015-2016. This massive project goes far beyond annually required repairs and maintenance and involves replacing all the frames, planks and much of the “backbone” below the water line on Clearwater.

Clearwater, founded by Pete Seeger, has been serving the Hudson River with unique environmental education programs since 1969.

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About Hudson River Sloop Clearwater

Hudson River Sloop Clearwater has been at the forefront of the environmental movement as champions of the Hudson River.

To date, more than half a million people have experienced their first real look at an estuary’s ecosystem aboard the sloop Clearwater. Clearwater has become the grassroots model for producing positive changes to protect our planet. For more information, visit www.clearwater.org.