How Team Salt Life Gives Back
Here at Salt Life, we’re fortunate to be able to spend so much of our time on the water with friends and family. And we believe that by giving back, we’re showing gratitude for our place in the world.
Sometimes that’s as simple as bringing a garbage bag to the beach and picking up litter, and sometimes it means spending a Saturday morning volunteering with a local charity. But the beauty of getting involved in sports like fishing, diving, and surfing is that you get to join forces with like-minded people to make a difference in unique and inspiring ways.
We asked our partners on Team Salt Life how they give back to their communities and were overwhelmed with responses. Here are just a few ways Team Salt Life members are making their corners of the world a better place.
Justin Baker
Justin Baker, a pro surfer based in St. Lucie, Florida, participates in the nonprofit Surfers for Autism, which helps unlock the potential of those with autism and other developmental delays with free surfing lessons. Throughout the season, Surfers for Autism hosts events where participants can connect with each other and learn how to surf in a safe, fun, encouraging environment.
Their local union benevolent foundation is helping SFA build a local chapter in St. Lucie, and, through the fire department, they’ve managed to put together an awesome volunteer crew. You can help SFA expand by becoming a sponsor.
Molly Ware
Molly Ware is a surfer based in Galveston, Texas. Outside of surfing, she is passionate about helping rescue dogs. Three Little Pitties is an all-breed dog and cat rescue that saves animals in Texas, and Molly has recently become involved with them to help give animals loving homes.
Animal shelters in South Texas are extremely overpopulated, and by adopting out rescued pets to families in other parts of the country, Three Little Pitties can help save animals’ lives. If you’re looking to welcome a new pet into your family in the new year, consider adopting through Three Little Pitties.
Gio Santora
At only 12 years old, Gio Santora is one of the youngest go-kart drivers in the country. He and his family help give back by volunteering with Feeding Students USA, which helps provide healthy meals to feed insecure families in Arizona.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Gio’s school helped provide Thanksgiving dinners to families in their community. The holidays can be a financially difficult time for those in need, and with the rising cost of food, donations are especially meaningful.
Amber Lewis
Amber Lewis is a partner in hope with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She makes monthly donations to help families who are unable to pay their children’s medical bills.
St. Jude treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Amber loves this charity because they never turn away a child—even if their parents are unable to pay. You can make a meaningful difference in the lives of families battling childhood cancer by becoming a partner in hope.
Tyler Macallister
Tyler Macallister supports a number of charities, including the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare, a national nonprofit that helps caregivers and medical professionals elevate the patient experience with compassion. Salt Life recently helped Tyler with his fundraising efforts for the Schwartz Center by donating items that were used in a silent auction. You can also help support the Schwartz Center by making a tax-deductible donation to support their education and advocacy efforts.
Team United Row
Team United Row is raising funds for the Hear Her Roar campaign, a charitable effort led by Clemson University IPTAY nonprofit. IPTAY helps support student athletes in their educational and athletic endeavors. Hear Her Roar is a fundraising initiative to raise awareness and financial support for Clemson’s women student-athletes. It achieves this through scholarships, state-of-the-art facilities, and student-athlete experiences. You can support Hear Her Roar with a charitable donation.
Gabi Gerbasi
Gabi Gerbasi is a diver and spearfisher who is extraordinarily passionate about ocean conservation. Gabi created a stunning coffee table book, My Life in Shades of Blue - A Visual Story of a Girl and her Ocean, which tells the story of her life and travels as she’s experienced them through the ocean. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of her book go towards supporting ocean conservation. Gabi supports a number of nonprofits including the Ocean Conservancy, Oceana, Parley for the Oceans, and Mission Blue.
Ryder & Lana Walding
Ryder and Lana Walding have extraordinarily generous spirits, and frequently raise money for various wildlife programs and local charitable efforts. Last year, Ryder paddled on a prone paddleboard 29 nautical miles across Monterey Bay to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis. While doing so, he raised more than $10,000 and became the youngest person in history to complete the challenge. Lana does her part by organizing a weekly beach cleanup with the fishing club she started at her school.
Kris Hopkins
Kris Hopkins serves on the board of the Texas Gulf Surfing Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that promotes and preserves surfing along Texas’s Gulf coast. They organize grassroots surfing events while emphasizing sportsmanship and promoting environmental awareness. You can support the TGSA by making a tax-deductible donation.
Final Thoughts
At Salt Life, we’re passionate about making the world a healthier, happier, greener place—and we’re lucky to work with generous folks who share that commitment. This holiday season, we’re extending our thanks to Team Salt Life for all that they do for us, for each other, and for the world.
You can join Salt Life in supporting organizations that work tirelessly to protect the things that matter most. Be sure to check out the different t-shirts we have available to support Mote Marine Laboratory, National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Roatan Marine Park, and the Oyster Recovery Partnership. The net profits from the sale of these shirts will go towards helping the organizations.