SoCal Couple Donates $2 Million Yacht To Costa Mesa's OCC
Jerry and Jan Barto are brimming with holiday spirit. The Newport Beach couple donated a rather expensive gift to Orange Coast College's (OCC) School of Sailing and Seamanship in Costa Mesa - a $2 million luxury yacht.
The generous donation aims to help students in the Professional Mariner Program train for careers in the industry.
The 92-foot yacht, dubbed "Nordic Star," will dock at the school in Newport Beach Harbor. Students will make use of the vessel year-round.
Jerry, whose three children, two daughters-in-law and grandson all attended OCC, told The Daily Breeze, "This was a family decision. We wanted to help students and this great program, so it was an easy decision to make."
Brad Avery, director of the college's marine programs, told The Daily Breeze, "We needed a ship that gives students hands-on training and skills they need to get jobs. Nordic Star is absolutely perfect for that." Avery told Coast Report Online that Nordic Star will serve as the perfect floating classroom.
