West Marine Distributes BlueFuture 2019 Grants to Benefit America’s Youth

For the fourth year in a row, West Marine has announced the names of nonprofit organizations across the country that will each receive $1,500 in grant awards for a total of $40,500. West Marine selected 27 nonprofits during the most recent grant cycle. All winners are community-based organizations dedicated to getting young people out on and around the water in recreational and educational capacities.

“The West Marine team is excited to reward these winning organizations and their commitment to getting more kids out on the water through boating, fishing and marine science,” said Aaron Carpenter, chief marketing officer. “We are proud to be able to contribute annually to the enormous efforts of these nonprofits and their dedication to their communities.”

The 2019 BlueFuture spring grant recipients include: ANGARI Foundation, West Palm Beach, Florida; ClearShark H2O, Hanover, Maryland; Delta Sculling Center, Stockton, California; Downtown Sailing Center, Baltimore, Maryland; EYC Foundation, Annapolis, Maryland; Freedom Waters Foundation, Naples, Florida; Green Bay Sail & Paddle, Green Bay, Wisconsin; History of Diving Museum, Islamorada, Florida; Lake Minnetonka Sailing School, Excelsior, Minnesota; Malama na Honu, Hauula, Hawaii; Marine Life Studies, Moss Landing, California; Mystic Seaport Museum (Sailing Center), Mystic, Connecticut; New England Science & Sailing Foundation, Inc., Stonington, Connecticut; Ocean Protection Advocacy Kids, Inc. (OPAK), Pembroke, Massachusetts; O’Neill Sea Odyssey, Santa Cruz, California; Orange County Coastkeeper, Costa Mesa, California; Reef Check Foundation, Marina del Rey, California; Reef Relief, Key West, Florida; Sail Cape Cod, Hyannis, Massachusetts; Sail Newport, Newport, Rhode Island; Sail to Prevail, Newport, Rhode Island; Sarasota Youth Sailing, Sarasota, Florida; Shark River Sailing and Science Academy, Belmar, New Jersey; Spirit of America Foundation, Mentor, Ohio; Tampa Bay Watch, Tierra Verde, Florida; Venice Youth Boating Association, Inc., Venice, Florida; and Youth Sailing Virginia Inc., Hampton, Virginia.

BlueFuture is a donor-advised fund through the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz, California. All donations are fully tax-deductible, and each year West Marine awards grants to worthy nonprofit organizations across North America. These much-needed funds allow community-based groups to provide scholarships, purchase new equipment, maintain staff, add programs and more.

The West Marine grants are unrestricted, allowing grant recipients to determine how and when they use the funds. The fund is supported by a Safe Boating fundraising effort in May and the Month of Giving campaign in December. Year-round donations are encouraged through www.westmarine.com/ BlueFuture.