Courageous Leadership Profile

Ladd and Sigrid Thorne

As lifelong sailors, proud parents, and Chairman and CEO respectively of the Fortress Corporation, Ladd and Sigrid Thorne connected quickly and intuitively with the power and potential of the Courageous mission. Introduced to Courageous in 2010 (through their son and then Board member, Ladd, Jr., who continues to be a strong Courageous advocate), Ladd and Sigrid began the work of gathering resources to launch “Swim Sail Science” (SSS), an innovative Courageous program that combines an academic core and sailing based enrichment for 4th and 5th graders. Their actions ensured that Courageous would make an impactful change in the lives of many marginalized Boston youth, by helping to reduce summer learning loss and by extension, reduce the opportunity gap.

The success of SSS is unimaginable without Ladd’s and Sigrid’s leadership. Between 2012 and 2018, the Thornes personally gave and helped to secure over $500,000 in critical funding and devoted countless hours to grow Courageous’s capacity and realize its strategic plan. In 2014, in recognition of their dedication to our mission and vision, Courageous Sailing established the Ladd and Sigrid Thorne Award for Leadership, which is given annually to individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment and stewardship to the Courageous mission.

When Mayor Walsh and BPS’s superintendent recently chose to highlight the impact of SSS in a visit Charlestown’s Harvard-Kent School, we couldn’t have been prouder–and we couldn’t have done any of it without the Thornes. Please join us in thanking Ladd and Sigrid and celebrating their vision and leadership.

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