West Marine announces recipients of Spring 2017 BlueFuture Grants

After receiving a record number of applications in its spring 2017 grant cycle, West Marine has announced the names of 25 nonprofit organizations that will receive $1,500 grant awards. This summer, the company will present grant checks to the winners, all community-based organizations that are dedicated to getting young people on and around the water in recreational and educational capacities.

The grants are unrestricted, which means West Marine allows grant recipients to determine how and when they use these funds.

“No one understands the needs of a community better than those living and working in that community,” said Deb Radcliff, West Marine senior vice president, marketing. “We think these special organizations are doing incredible work to improve access to the water, teach valuable job and life skills, and encourage young people from all backgrounds to create and treasure their very own waterlife experiences.”

The spring 2017 BlueFuture grant recipients are:

• ABLE for Youth Inc. dba ABLE To Sail, Longmont, Colo.
• American Seafarers, Waterford, Conn.
• Brother Rice / Marian Competitive Sailing, Rochester Hills, Mich.
• Buzzards Bay Coalition, New Bedford, Mass.
• Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons, Md.
• Community Rowing, Boston, Mass.
• City of Mackinac Island Rec Dept., Mackinac Island, Mich.
• Hudson River Maritime Museum, Kingston, N.Y.
• King Harbor Youth Foundation, Redondo Beach, Calif.
• Friends of MAOS (Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science), Monterey, Calif.
• New Horizons Maritime Center, Springville, Utah
• Newport Sea Base, Newport Beach, Calif.
• Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA), Fort Pierce, Fla.
• Puppy Prodigies, Escondido, Calif.
• San Juan Islands Sailing Foundation, Friday Harbor, Wash.
• Sail Nauticus, Norfolk, Va.
• Sea Scout Ship 5496, St. Charles, Mo.
• Space Coast Sailing Education Foundation Inc., Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.
• Student Angler League Tournament Trail, Myrtle Beach, S.D.
• Surfrider Spirit Sessions, Kailua, HI
• The 5Gyres Institute, Los Angeles, Calif.
• The Cleveland Home dba Life Adventure Center, Versailles, Ky.
• Warrior’s Ranch Inc., Wakefield, Kan.
• WILDCOAST, San Diego, Calif.
• YMCA Camp Winona, DeLeon Springs, Fla.

“We congratulate these 25 nonprofit organizations, which are having such an important impact on young people’s lives,” Radcliff said. “We’re also deeply grateful to all the organizations who applied for spring 2017 BlueFuture grants. With a record number of applications, our judges’ task was extremely challenging. We extend our best wishes to all applicants for continued success and hope they will reapply 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 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 funds allow community-based groups to provide scholarships, purchase new equipment, maintain staff, add programs and more.

To learn more about West Marine’s BlueFuture initiative and how to help, visit www.westmarine.com/BlueFuture.