The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water will give grants of up to $4,000 each to local community organizations and non-profit groups for its Boating Safety Grant program that is designed to help make our waterways safer for recreational boaters. A total of nearly $50,000 in grant funding is available. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2006 and grants will be awarded in late January 2007. Interested groups such as boat and yacht clubs, flotillas and squadrons can download an application at http:// www.BoatUS.com/foundation

“If you ever had a good idea that you believed would make recreational boating safer, this is your chance to act,” said Chris Edmonston, director of the Foundation's Boating Safety Programs.

Over the past 17 years the Foundation has awarded nearly $700,000 in Safety Grant funds to organizations that develop innovative projects that promote safe boating on local waterways. Past projects have ranged from creating literature on the effects of boating under the influence of alcohol to boat ramp signage informing users about free vessel safety checks. Edmonston said, “We believe that the creativity that goes along with a grass roots approach to increase safe boating may yield some very out-of-the-box ideas.”

In addition to going to http:// www.BoatUS.com/foundation for an application, you may learn more about the Boating Safety Grants by calling 703-461-2878, ext. 8353 .

The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit education and research organization primarily funded by the voluntary contributions of 665,000 members of BoatU.S. The Foundation operates more than a dozen programs including the only accredited, free, online general boating safety course, a low-cost EPIRB rental program, the “Help Stop the Drops” national clean fueling campaign, a free kid's Life Jacket Loaner Program, and has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for nonprofit groups for boating safety and environmental projects.

For more information on making a tax-deductible donation to help keep programs like these afloat, go to http:// www.BoatUS.com/foundation

.