BoatUS Foundation Announces
Boating
Safety Grant Winners
Program Receives Record Number of Applications
The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean
Water has awarded nearly $50,000 in grants to 23 nonprofit groups
from Alaska to Florida (see list below) to spread the message about
safe boating practices. Since 1988, the Foundation has awarded over
three quarters of a million dollars in boating safety grants to fund
projects that promote responsible boating at the local level. Funds
are derived from the voluntary contributions of the 670,000 members
of Boat Owners Association of The United States, (BoatUS).
“Visit any marina or waterfront community and you’ll find
volunteers working hard to keep our waterways safe for boaters. This
grant program helps these volunteers continue their good work,” said
David Carter, Program Manager for the BoatUS Foundation.
The BoatUS Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit
education and research organization, received a record 148 applications
for its 2007 Boating Safety Grant cycle. Projects ranged from life
jacket exchange programs and the building of a “tugboat” for
educational purposes to a flying blimp adorned with boating safety
messages, development of radio and TV public service announcements,
advertising campaigns, and billboard signage.
To encourage excellence in boating safety grant performance, these
groups will be eligible for an additional honor, the Leadership in
Boating Safety Outreach Award, which will be bestowed to the group
that completes the most innovative, resourceful and effective grant
project.
Groups providing the Foundation a final report
at the completion of their project will be eligible for the Outreach
Award, which gives the winner an additional $500 to use toward their
project. “We’ll
evaluate how successful each group was in terms of effectiveness, professionalism,
innovation and the use of positive messages,” said Carter. “This
is a way for us to say, ‘job well done’, and supplement
a successful program with extra funds,” he continued.
For information about how to make a
tax deductible donation to help keep programs like these afloat, go
to:
http://www.BoatUS.com/Foundation
2007 BoatUS Foundation Boating Safety Grant Recipients
Alaska: US Coast Guard Auxiliary 17-02-01 of Homer, AK, for the purchase
of safe boating kits and life jackets to be distributed to local boaters.
Alabama: Dog River Clearwater Revival of Mobile, AL for the production
of 700 sets of eight different laminated cards containing various boating
safety topics.
California: US Coast Guard Auxiliary 11-10-06 of Visalia, CA, for
the purchase and installation of three outdoor bulletin boards that
will provide boating safety information.
Redwood Empire Public Television of Eureka, CA for the production of
five public service announcements on various safety topics.
Florida: Sarasota Yacht Club of Sarasota, FL for the production of
2500 brochures on navigating Big Pass Inlet.
US Coast Guard Auxiliary 70-09-01 of Cape Coral, FL to install an information
kiosk at the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp.
Illinois: Land of Lincoln Power Squadron of Springfield, IL, to build
a nine-foot long tugboat that will be used as a working visual training
aid at boat shows and boating safety seminars.
Iowa: Iowa Great Lakes Water Safety Council of Okoboji, IA, to produce
and distribute 10,000 brochures containing boating safety issues specifically
for the Iowa Great Lakes.
Kentucky: Barren River Regional Water Safety Council of Glasgow, KY,
for the purchase of a blimp containing safety messages.
Blood River Safety of Murray, KY, for the purchase of three outdoor
display boards containing safety information.
Louisiana: US Coast Guard Auxiliary 81-06-06 of Sulphur, LA, to purchase
markers and beacons that will be placed to indicate the location of
debris fields resulting from Hurricane Rita; and to produce maps, pamphlets
and public service announcements to raise public awareness about these
navigational hazards.
Massachusetts: Parker River Yacht Club of Bradford, MA, to build and
install three dock safety equipment stations at the town docks and
launching facility.
New York: US Coast Guard Auxiliary 09-02-02 of Ithaca, NY, to produce
18, five-minute radio programs on various boating safety topics.
North Carolina: Pamlico Sail & Power Squadron
of Washington, NC to produce 1000 boating safety brochures aimed
at local 8th-graders.
Montana: Unified Boaters of Canyon Ferry of Monarch, MT, to produce
20 signs and 2500 maps that will provide safety tips and information
on local safety concerns.
Ohio: Lake Parks Foundation of Painesville, OH, to design and print
200 posters aimed at increasing life jacket use.
Safe Kids Greater Toledo of Toledo, OH, to produce an ad campaign containing
boating safety messages and boating safety course availability that
will be shown on local movie theater screens
Oklahoma: North OKC Bassmasters of Norman, OK, to produce and install
20 signs encouraging boaters to wear life jackets.
South Carolina: Lake Hartwell Association of Anderson, SC, to produce
20,000 boating safety brochures on navigating Lake Hartwell and other
local safety topics.
Virginia: US Coast Guard Auxiliary 05-08-87 of Louisa, VA, to produce
an interactive and
downloadable map of Lake Anna.
US Coast Guard Auxiliary 54-06-62 of Deltaville, VA, to establish a
life jacket exchange program at local events
Washington: Footloose Disabled Sailing Association
of Seattle, WA, to produce 5000 "Introduction to Safe and Fun Adaptive Sailing" brochures.
Wisconsin: US Coast Guard Auxiliary 95-04-08, Washington Island, WI,
to purchase 2 radio controlled boats to be used to promote life jacket
use among children
