West Marine Announces Recipients of Spring 2016 BlueFuture Grants
Watsonville, CA, June 6, 2016 –West Marine, the world’s premier Waterlife Outfitter, has announced names of the 25 nonprofit organizations that will receive spring 2016 BlueFuture grants. In June, West Marine’s BlueFuture Program will present the $1,500 grants to the winners, all of which are community-based organizations that are dedicated to getting young people on and around the water in both recreational and educational capacities.
The grants are unrestricted, which means that West Marine allows grant recipients to determine how and when they use the funds.
“We believe no one understands the needs of a community better than those living and working in that community,” says Lindsey Johnson, West Marine’s Director of Communications. “We’re very much looking forward to hearing about our grant recipients’ accomplishments in the year to come.”
The spring 2016 BlueFuture grant receipients are:
Boat Kids, Lutz, Florida
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula-Gloucester Unit, Hayes, Virginia
Call of the Sea, Sausalito, California
Community Boating Center Inc., Providence, Rhode Island
Duluth Community Sailing Association, Duluth, Minnesota
Grand Haven High School Sailing Club, Grand Haven, Michigan
Hamden Middle School Navigator Program, Hamden, Connecticut
Kids Outdoors Inc., Morris Plains, New Jersey
Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, Burlington, Vermont
Lowcountry Maritime Society, Charleston, South Carolina
Maine Maritime Museum, Bath, Maine
Marine Industry Cares Foundation, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Mattapoisett Community Sailing Inc., Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
Middlesex YMCA Camp Ingersoll, Middletown, Connecticut
Mountain and Sea Educational Adventures, San Pedro, California
New England Science & Sailing Foundation, Stonington, Connecticut
O’Neill Sea Odyssey, Santa Cruz, California
Quartermaster Yacht Club/Vashon Parks District, Vashon, Washington
Rocking the Boat, Bronx, New York
Salish Sea Expeditions, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Santa Cruz, California
South Coast Sailing Team/Mariners 936 Sea Scouts, Laguna Niguel, California
Spirit of America Foundation, Mentor, Ohio
Waterfront Education, Redondo Beach, California
“We congratulate these 25 nonprofit organizations, which are doing so much to improve youth access to the water in their communities,” Johnson says. “We’re also deeply grateful to all the organizations who applied for spring 2016 BlueFuture grants. We extend our best wishes to all of them for continued success and hope they will consider reapplying in the fall.”
West Marine’s BlueFuture Fund distributes tens of thousands of dollars annually through spring and fall BlueFuture grants. To grow the fund, West Marine conducts three signature in-store fundraisers: National Safe Boating Week in May; World Oceans Day in June; and the Month of Giving in December. The fund also encourages year-round donations through its website, www.westmarine.com/BlueFuture.
The BlueFuture Fund is a donor-advised fund through the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz. All donations are fully tax-deductible, and twice 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 so much more.
To learn more about the BlueFuture initiative and how you can help, visit www.westmarine.com/BlueFuture.
About West MarineEach person has a unique connection to the water. At West Marine (westmarine.com,NASDAQ: WMAR), our knowledge, enthusiasm and products prepare waterlife adventurers to foster that connection and explore their passions. With more than 260 stores located in 38 states and Puerto Rico and an eCommerce website reaching domestic, international and professional customers, West Marine is recognized as a leading Waterlife Outfitter for cruisers, sailors, anglers and paddlesports enthusiasts. Since first opening our doors in 1968, WestMarine associates continue to share the same love for the water as our customers and provide helpful advice on the gear and gadgets they need to be safe and have fun.
Media Contact
Margo Donohue | press@westmarine.com | 917.679.6945