About Us

Mission Statement: The mission of the St Joseph Junior Foundation is to provide sailing and water safety instruction to youth and adults at an affordable price, and to provide a safe, fun environment in which they can learn and appreciate our natural resources, the waters of St. Joseph, Michigan.
 
 
Executive Director : Jeff Fratzke
Resides in St. Joseph with his wife Kris. They have four grown children. The past nine years he has enjoyed substitute teaching in the St. Joseph School System. He has also held a real estate broker license for nearly 25 years. Jeff has always been a mentor to the young people of our community thru coaching area youth sports for many years and his presence in the our schools and classrooms. Most of the Staff and many of the students will already know Mr. Fratzke as a coach or teacher. Jeff will continue to grow the program and is excited to learn more about sailing himself.
 
 

Head instructor:  Silas Lorenz

Adult Class Sailing Director: Andy Grootendorst
Andy grew up in our SJJF program and went on to sail on the Michigan State University team, and was a Top 10 ranked Hobie racer 3 years in a row. He is a Mac race “goat” starting the Chicago to Mackinac race in 1969, and is a two time winner! He has won numerous Queen’s Cup and Tri-State regattas, and was skipper of the 2012 Chicago “Boat of the Year.” Learn to sail, or learn and sail fast with Andy.

SJJF OVERVIEW: 

St Joseph Junior Foundation is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization established in 1953 to teach water safety and sailing skills to children and adults in Berrien County, Michigan.

We are supported through our summer sailing program as well as the donations from many people who care so much about our community and wish to enjoy it to its fullest.

The school was founded in memory of Phil Upton, son of Whirlpool Corporation’s founder Louis Upton. Phil drowned in a sailing accident in the 1930’s at college. Over 6000 students have taken classes at the SJJF over the past 50 years.

 

Please send us an email for additional information, or give us a call during the season (April through August) at (269) 983-5441.

FAQs