Gloucester Fishermen's Wives

CONTACT:

2 Blackburn Center
Gloucester, MA 01930
978-282-2504
www.gfwa.org

Angela Sanfilippo, President

DESCRIPTION:

Gloucester was our country's first fishing port. The Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association was the first organization of its kind, founded in 1969. The Association "promotes the New England fishing industry, helps preserve the Atlantic Ocean as a food supply for the world, assists active and retired fishermen and their families to live better lives, and promotes Gloucester... for its beauty and the culture of the people on its working waterfront."

As a strong voice in local, state, federal and international meetings and hearings, GFWA has helped win the reauthorization of the 200-mile limit protecting American fisheries, the establishment of the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, the prohibition against oil drilling on Georges Bank, and new laws to prohibit ocean dumping. It has created a Mentor Program to help students in career development, provided scholarships for higher education, promoted the use of plentiful species in the food industry, and facilitated the involvement of all diverse interests in community planning. It has worked with scientists, artists, government officials, conservationists, the insurance industry and health care delivery professionals, and fishermen's wives associations in other coastal towns and foreign countries around the world. It helps fishing families who decide to leave the industry. In 2001, it erected a 12-foot high monument to memorialize the faith, diligence and fortitude of the wives of fishermen and mariners everywhere. And it is progressive -- check out their web page at www.gwfa.org.

The GFWA is not fully charitable because it is an advocate and politically active -- IRS classification 501(c)(6). The GFW Development Programs, Inc., est. 1995, is a 501(c)(3) organization, and manages all educational, research, and other charitable activities for GFW. It is eligible to receive fully deductible charitable donations -- such as yours.

(1997: HUMAN SERVICES: Well-Being)