West Marine World Oceans Day fundraiser runs through June 8
From now through World Oceans Day, Wednesday, June 8, West Marine is selling reusable, eco-friendly bags in 50 select stores across North America to support its BlueFuture Fund.
Each bag is available for $5, and all proceeds from bag sales will benefit West Marine’s nonprofit initiative, which provides vital grant funding for youth-based organizations dedicated to getting kids on and around the water in both recreational and educational capacities.
The bags feature original artwork from the two winners of West Marine’s first-ever World Oceans Day Bag Design Contest: Twelve-year-old Elsa Simenstad of San Anselmo, California, in the 5-12 age category; and 16-year-old Amber Davis of Key Largo, Florida, in the 13-18 age category.
According to Lindsey Johnson, West Marine’s director of communications, the BlueFuture-World Oceans Day fundraiser is critical for the growth of the BlueFuture Fund, which distributes tens of thousands of dollars annually through two grant cycles (spring and fall).
“As BlueFuture continues to grow, we have the ability to support more nonprofit organizations across the country that are having a critical impact on their communities’ young people,” she said. “This fundraiser also is important to us because we believe that sustainable practices matter, and we, too, want to see our waterways clean and healthy and our fisheries thriving for future generations.”
Funds raised this week will help support West Marine’s fall BlueFuture grant period, which will open later this summer. To learn more about West Marine’s 2016 BlueFuture grants, and for detailed information about the company’s BlueFuture initiative and how you can help, visit www.westmarine.com/BlueFuture.
