Shaw Fund for Mariners’ Children

about the shaw fund

The Shaw Fund for Mariners’ Children is a private foundation dedicated to supporting New England fishermen and others who work at sea. Established in 1853, The Shaw Fund has been providing financial assistance and resource and referral services to mariner families residing in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire for over 150 years.

The Shaw Fund provides short-term financial assistance at times of illness or injury. The Fund further assists retired mariners, and widows and widowers of mariners, facing financial difficulties. Financial assistance is also made available to dependent children of mariners. Shaw Fund social workers provide information about, and referrals to govern­ment and community agencies for additional support.

The Fund accepts referrals from community service providers and self-referrals. Proof of a substantial work history in the industry, as well as financial need, is required to be considered for assistance. The Fund’s social workers assist applicants with establishing required documentation.

Typical grants include: payments for housing costs and utilities; assistance with medical transportation costs and purchase of durable medical equipment; purchase of books and school supplies and payment of student fees. This is just a partial list and all requests are considered individually.

The goal of the Shaw Fund is to aid mariners and their families during times of financial challenge, and to work toward establishing their long-term financial stability.

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