2005 boating safety grants awarded

Boat/US Magazine, March, 2005

Hardworking and dedicated. Creative and innovative. Who are we talking about? BoatU.S. Foundation Boating Safety Grant recipients of course! And this spring the Foundation will award $40,000 to 22 nonprofit groups working on projects that make boating safer in local boating communities.

This year, with a focus topic of increasing life jacket usage among all boaters, the Foundation received 100 grant applications from nonprofit and community groups across the country. Submitted proposals focused on educational classes, community demonstrations, the distribution of literature and the creation of safety signs.

"We're thrilled to be working with these inventive and resourceful groups," said Shannon Barrett, program administrator. "Their hard work and knowledge of their communities ensure that more and more boaters are learning to be safer while enjoying our sport."

Each year, the Foundation gives up to $4,000 per group for programs focusing on ways to educate local communities on the importance of safe recreational boating. Applications for the next grant cycle will be available in the summer of 2005.

Since the program began in 1988, the Foundation has awarded over $600,000 in boating safety grants to fund projects that promote responsible boating on a local level. Funds are derived from the voluntary contributions of the 575,000 members of BoatU.S. For more information about how you can make a tax-deductible donation to help keep programs like these afloat, go to www.BoatUS.com/foundation.

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RELATED ARTICLE: 2005 BoatU.S. Foundation Grant Recipients:

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 0205, Seward, AK, to reproduce the "Emergency Procedures "boating sticker and translate it into Inupiat, Korean, Japanese, Tagalog and Chinese.

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Barbara, CA, for the "Boating Safety Equipment and Education" exhibit, which will display a variety of personal safety gear and other safety related equipment.

West Point Lake Coalition Water Safety Council, LaGrange, GA, for the production of 10 water and boating safety signs for courtesy docks and bridges in local boating areas.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 0887, Sandpoint, ID, to design and install signs at each of the 22 boat launches surrounding Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River encouraging boaters to wear life jackets.

Elkhorn Land & Historic Trust, Inc., Frankfort, KY, to create and distribute 20,000 "Slip 'n' Click" mini posters demonstrating the importance of slipping on a life jacket and hearing the strap fasteners click shut.

Livingston Parish Waterway Commission, Denham Springs, LA, to distribute 600 "We Were Caught Wearing Our Life Jackets" t-shirts to local boaters.

Lake Region Safe Lakes Assoc., Naples, ME, to create and distribute literature, signs, rack cards and articles encouraging boaters to wear life jackets.

Kent County Safety and Community Action Fund, Grand Rapids, MI, to distribute 1,000 water bottles and 2,000 color flyers.

SEMO Regional Water Safety Council, Inc., Wappapello, MO, to design and distribute 250 "Safe Boaters Wear Life Jackets" t-shirts.

Kings Kinnie Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN, to print and distribute 1,000 copies of "My First Book on Boating, a Guide to Boating Safety for the Young Boater."

Southern Nevada Sea Partners, Henderson, NV, to purchase various types and styles of life jackets that will be used for elementary school presentations.

New River Foundation, Inc., Jacksonville, NC, to establish 18 safety signs geared toward life jacket usage at main boat ramps and the Cowhom paddle trail.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 0204, Lincroft, NJ, to create and distribute 500 life jacket foam drink holders and flyers with safety messages regarding the importance of life jacket usage.

City Island Power Squadron, Bronx, NY, to create and distribute 1,000 "Yardstick for Boating Safety" decals.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 1109, Brooklyn, NY, to create and distribute 1,000 16-page, full color boating safety booklets.

Erie Power Squadron, Ripley, NY, for two outdoor vinyl banners promoting boating safety classes to new boaters in the area.

Southern Ohio Marine Traders Assoc., Cincinnati, OH, to design and distribute promotional materials and to purchase life jackets for the Cincinnati Boat Show.

Erie Safe Boating Tast Force, Erie, PA, to create and distribute 1,000 Chapsticks "on a leash," featuring boating safety messages.

Western Pennsylvania Search and Rescue, Wilkinsburg, PA, to construct five informational rescue stations and place them in Allegany County, Pa.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 7, Salt Lake City, UT, to design and post refueling procedure signs at all on-the-water gas refueling points within the state.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University student--Sarah E. Taylor, Blacksburg, VA, to research and design practical and comfortable life jackets specific to paddlers and similar user groups.

Jackson County DIVE Team, Black River Falls, WI, for a row boat and safety gear that will be used for on-the-water training and safety education.