Who We Are

Our Story

In November 2011, two friends – Cindy Atkinson and Shawn Dippel – were disheartened to hear that a mutual friend was going through a difficult time. Cindy and Shawn decided that they would each try to get 10 friends to donate $10 to help this individual. They even took it a step further and included another friend in need. 

Cindy and Shawn were astounded at the contributions and support they received. They surpassed their initial goal of $200, and ended up raising over $1500! With this, they were able to make the holiday season a joyous one for both families in need. 

And so, the Christmas Appeal – the precursor to Starboard Society – was born.

The following year, we discovered another family in a desperate situation and once again raised awareness and funds to help. We realized there was a gap in the assistance available for families in transition due to an unexpected tragedy –  loss of income, divorce, a family death, or another hardship. 

These families often don’t qualify for public assistance “on paper”, but they are still without the means to support themselves and their children during a time when their lives are turned upside down. And applications for public assistance can take months to process, by which time a family could have lost their car, their home, or other basic needs.

It became clear that we needed to help families struggling with these issues. that they needed more than just a merry Christmas. They needed a course correction.

And thus, from the original Christmas Appeal concept, Starboard Society was formed.

It’s easy to think that those in need are outside our circle of friends and family – but sometimes the people that need us most are closer than we realize. And our clients are often the very people that would never seek assistance. They are contributors to society and hard workers. The ones who give back and pay it forward, as soon as they are able. Yet because of their unforeseen situation, they are simply unable to make ends meet. 

Over the past decade, and counting, we are so grateful to have been able to help these families. To empathize, support and ultimately uplift these families. Renewing them with the tools to thrive.