Safe Kids Of Greater Toledo takes excellence award

by BoatU.S. on 24 Jul 2008 Safety and Clean Water honored Safe Kids of Greater Toledo, OH with its 2007 Boating Safety Grant Excellence Award and announced the granting of nearly $50,000 to 19 groups across the US for its 2008 Boating Safety Grant program.

The BoatU.S. Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit education and research organization, received 126 applications for its 2008 Boating Safety Grant cycle, which focused on increasing life jacket use.

Of the 19 grants selected for funding, projects ranged from the construction of a PWC simulator used to promote safe PWC operation and life jacket wear, the creation of a poster contest for local high school students to the production of a boating safety activity book for children.

The Boating Safety Grant Excellence Award is bestowed on the group that conducts the year's most innovative, resourceful and effective grant project. Safe Kids of Greater Toledo will receive an additional $1000 to use towards last year's grant program that included public service announcements promoting life jacket use that aired in regional movie theaters.

'This is a way for us to say, 'job well done', and supplement a successful program with extra funds,' said Grant Program Manager Alanna Keating.

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. Each year, applications are made available in late summer with a November 1 deadline. Funds are derived from the voluntary contributions of the 650,000 members of Boat Owners Association of The United States, (BoatU.S.).

For information about how to make a tax-deductible donation to help keep programs like these afloat, go to
http://www.BoatUS.com/Foundation

2008 BoatU.S. Foundation Boating Safety Grant Recipients

California: Sailing Education Adventures of San Francisco, to promote life jacket use through posters, t-shirts and advertising of the 'Now you're clicking - Life Jackets Save Lives' campaign.

Colorado: USCGA 08-01-02 of Highlands Ranch, to produce banners for an information booth that promote life jacket wear. USCGA 08-02-23 of Durango, to produce 600 copies of the 'On the River' poster that will be distributed to local businesses.

Connecticut: New London Power Squadron of Colchester, to promote life jacket use at the 'Safety Awareness Day' and through the 'Take the Pledge' campaign.

Florida: St. Lucie River Power Squadron of Jensen Beach, to produce stickers containing boating safety information that will be attached to the front of the local newspaper.

USCGA 07-15-08 of Springhill, to build and install five kiosks at local boat ramps that will contain boating safety information.

Iowa: Des Moines Sail and Power Squadron to purchase a portable, interactive, educational kiosk to be used at local events.

Blood River Safety of Murray, to purchase and distribute tote bags that contain boating safety information.

Kentucky: USCGA 08-08-07 of Lafayette, to produce and erect 14 signs containing safe fueling messages.

Michigan: Port Huron Power Squadron, to purchase boating safety tattoos to be distributed at local events.

St. County Marine Rescue Unit of Port Huron, to produce a children's activity book on boating safety.

North Carolina: Safe Kids Craven County of New Bern, NC, to hold a Marina Day event to promote boating safety locally, especially to children.

Nebraska: USCGA 08-33-02 of Papillion, to purchase skier down flags and 'I got caught wearing my life jacket' t-shirts.

New York: USCGA 01-22 of Northport, to produce signs promoting life jacket use that will be erected at local boat launches.

Ohio: Carroll County Safe Kids Chapter of Carrollton, to produce signs promoting the use of boating safety equipment and to hold a poster contest at local schools.

Pennsylvania: USCGA 05-01-09 of West Grove, PA, to promote life jacket use through a poster contest at local schools.

Texas: Colorado River Foundation of Austin, to build a PWC simulator that will be used to promote safe PWC operation at local events.

Virginia: Lake Anna Civic Association, to create two-sided cards to promote life jacket use and other general boating safety topics.

Washington: Deception Pass Sail & Power Squadron of Clinton, to promote boating safety by holding a Boat Fair that will include demonstrations and seminars on safe boating.