Thanks for supporting CBMM’s Annual FUNd-a-palooza!
Thank you to everyone who made a gift earlier this week as part of Annual FUNd-a-palooza!
This daylong celebration was all about showcasing the fun we’ve had this year thanks to the generosity of our community. Looking across our campus and calendar, there’s no doubt that our donors help put the FUN in Annual Fund!
It’s not too late to join the party by making your tax-deductible online donation to the Annual Fund to fuel the fun in 2026 and beyond. No amount is too small—Every gift makes a difference!
In case you missed it, we were busy throughout the day highlighting some of the unforgettable moments from our 60th anniversary year that illustrate our mission in action.
We asked our staff and volunteers to help us by sharing their fun-filled memories, and they chose a variety of programs, events, and initiatives that made this year special.
Kicking off the cavalcade of fun, our President & CEO Kristen Greenaway couldn’t pick just one!
All of these wonderful moments were made possible by you! Looking ahead, we have exciting plans for 2026, including new exhibitions, cruise offerings, and programming for all ages.
The thrill of it all even inspired our extremely talented Patriot Cruises Sales & Operations Manager Joyce Gauthier to burst into song!
Please enjoy all of the wonderful memories below! We invite you to share your favorite CBMM experiences from this year to remember by submitting your favorite photos, videos, and memories via email to havefun@cbmm.org or tagging us on social media along with #MyChesapeakeStory.
Thank you for being part of our community and this celebration!
Sophie Molloy, School-Aged Educator & Collections Assistant
Sophie shared the joy of sharing the panoramic view of the Miles River from the deck of At Play on the Bay with field trip groups. Your donations help us to expand our reach within the communities we serve and continue to educate and inspire the next generation of Chesapeake stewards.
Josh Atwood, Marina & Guest Services Manager
Sam Hilgartner, Vessel Conservation Manager
Sam shared memories of sailing historic skipjack Rosie Parks and building a dedicated volunteer crew for this season’s skipjack race series. Your donations help our Shipyard to preserve the vessels in our floating fleet and allow us to continue to share this unique Chesapeake tradition with our community!
Allison Williams, Volunteer Program Coordinator
Pete Lesher, Chief Historian
Pete looked back to the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival to share his favorite 2025 memory. It’s always a thrill to see children building and racing model boats and learning to sail on the Miles River, and this year was especially memorable as his son Nicholas took the top spot in the sailing race with some of his friends. Your donations help us continue to host this event that dates back to 1983 and create meaningful on-the-water memories for families!
Gabriella Cantelmo, Assistant Curator
Gabriella shared memories of exploring the Miles River on a variety of cruise offerings. From a Log Canoe Spectator Cruise to sailing on skipjack Rosie Parks during OysterFest, and even a PATRIOT cruise with her dog Dakota. Your donations help us continue to create memorable on-the-water adventures for our guests!
Tom Shephard, Charity Boat Donation Program Operations Lead
Tom shared memories from a standout year for the Charity Boat Donation Program. After eight years with CBMM and just ahead of his retirement this week, he’s celebrating the success of our Charity Boat Auction. An incredible 79 boats found new homes with many happy customers on Labor Day weekend. Your donations help us keep continue to create moments worth celebrating!