Client blog written for Salt Life / AppSoft Web Design
Living the salt life involves a lot more than suiting up, waxing down and riding the waves for fun or even exercise. True salt lifers know it’s a lifestyle with the potential to change the world – one disadvantaged or at-risk kid; one inured athlete; one health issue; one struggling community at a time. If the idea of using your passion for surfing to positively affect or influence someone’s life excites you, check out one of these amazing organizations making a difference and making the surf community proud.
Surfing the Nations: The Honolulu-based nonprofit operates one of the largest food distribution sites on the island of Oahu. Locally, the organization caters to Hawaii’s needy, disabled, homeless and working poor populations. But founders Tom and Cindy Bauer and their staff, interns and volunteers don’t stop at the nearest coastline. They make annual trips to neighboring islands and internationally to Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Israel and Egypt, blessing communities with clothing, supplies and surf culture. Surfing the Nations is the organization behind the award-winning documentary “Gum for my Boat,” which follows pro surfer Kahana Kalama (of Fuel TV’s “On Safari) to Bangladesh where a surf club of about 30 youth (many of them poverty-stricken or homeless) has become a catalyst for change in their lives and community.
SurfAid International: Founded by physician and avid surfer Dr. Dave Jenkins after an eye-opening and heart-wrenching trip to the Mentawai Islands, SurfAid International works to alleviate human suffering through community-based health programs. These programs focus efforts on reducing the incidence of malaria throughout Mentawai villages; preparing the Mentawai and Nias Islands villages for emergencies including floods, landslides, tidal surges, tropical storms and cyclones, forest fires and health epidemics; and providing access to clean water and healthier sanitation practices.
Stoked Mentoring: With outreaches in New York and Los Angeles, Stoked Mentoring challenges at-risk youth to change their perceptions, bust out of their comfort zones and push past their boundaries via sports like surfing, snowboarding and skate boarding. The organization focuses on boosting kids’ self-esteem and self confidence to help steer them away from negative choices and circumstances like drug use, dropping out of school, teen pregnancy and crime.
Life Rolls On / They Will Surf Again: They Will Surf Again brings individuals with spinal cord injuries from around the country together for a day of surfing, making friends and getting inspired to push past their physical limitations. It’s the flagship program of the Life Rolls On Foundation, a subsidiary of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injury through action sports and mentoring.
Never Quit Never: Salt Life’s hometown girl and top-ranked pro surfer Karina Petroni and her brother Erik Petroni founded Never Quit Never in honor of their dad, Capt. Gerard Petroni, who passed away after a major stroke and brain aneurysm. At the point during his initial recovery when he was unable to speak, Capt. Petroni penned the words “never quit.” That message resonated so deeply with his children, that they founded Never Quit Never, holding beach festivals that educate participants about brain bleeds and encourages healthy living choices.
Know of a great surf-related organization that we missed? Got an idea for improving lives and communities by living the salt life? Leave us a comment. And check the Salt Life blog regularly. We just might follow up with a great Salt Life blog entry about your organization or idea.
