This year we are celebrating the 20-year anniversary of Stay-Focused, which is both memorable and humbling. Who knew where we would be 20 years after committing to starting a nonprofit organization from scratch, but with the support of many individuals and generous sponsors we have arrived at a good place. This summer we returned to a full schedule of four, week-long programs, and added another eight first-time divers to the ranks, bringing our total to 153. We also welcomed a couple of new sponsors, The Westin Grand Cayman and Macabuca, for which we are most grateful. And based on the strong performance of Jason Ricketts, one of our Cayman interns, we have made Jason the Manager of our Caymanian Internship Program.

We were fortunate to receive a generous grant that enabled us to host Discover SCUBA events in three cities (Rochester, NY, Columbus, OH, and Spokane, WA), which were instrumental in expanding our reach, helping us source participants for our programs, and meeting diving instructors who we hope will want to be part of our summer programs.

The grant also provided funds for three of our alumni (Michael Fenster, Arielle Rausin, and Brian Siemann) to pursue their Divemaster certifications. I am delighted to report all three are on track to successfully complete the process in 2024, which is no easy accomplishment.

On November 5th, our Charity Partner Team in this year’s 2023 TCS New York City Marathon, which included five runners from Cayman, crossed the Finish Line and celebrated personal victories, along with the team’s success. Our team raised more than $65,000 against a goal of $62,500, with 250+ donors providing funds that will be used to support our programs in Cayman. Many thanks to all those who supported our team, especially DART for its generous financial support, along with The Grand Cayman Marriott and The Westin Grand Cayman.

All of us at Stay-Focused are looking forward to building on our success in 2024. We thank our friends, donors, sponsors, and volunteers for embracing the work we do and making it possible for us to continue to enrich the lives of divers with disabilities.

We wish you peaceful holidays and a happy and healthy New Year.

Roger Muller
Founder/President