Our Guide to Giving Tuesday
Our mission at Rogue Wave is to promote cleaner beaches, reduce carbon emissions, and eliminate microplastics by making better products with better materials. But, this kind of work truly takes a village.
Fortunately, there are many organizations who seek to do the same. You will find these powerful, change-making advocacy organizations who love and protect our ocean and beaches listed below.
We are also featuring organizations who promote equal access to the ocean and all it offers, because developing a love for the ocean through experience and understanding is crucial to understanding why we need to protect it.
This #GivingTuesday, we’re highlighting non-profits doing the work, day after day, of protecting our planet, oceans, and beaches, and creating equal access to it. We hope you’re as inspired by them as we are, and that you support their efforts if you can!
Surfrider Oahu (and specifically Ocean Friendly Restaurants)
To protect and enjoy our ocean, waves, and beaches through a powerful activist network
And they aren’t kidding. The Oahu Chapter is a powerhouse at advocating for and promoting policy and legislation to make Oahu (and Hawaii) a leader on sustainable initiatives in the US. Their Ocean Friendly Restaurants program encourages local restaurants to ditch disposable plastic cutlery and plastic water bottles and carryout bags, and promotes these businesses to the public. We’ve seen firsthand the power of this group and we know your donation is put to great use here.
Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii
Inspiring local communities to care for their coastlines
Beach clean ups, educational outreach, and literal tons of marine debris diversion - this non profit inspires better consumer habits through beach clean ups and educational initiatives. And they are chock full of passionate volunteers! We’re eager for their large-scale clean ups to pick back up post-covid, but in the meantime, they have pivoted to small, social distanced satellite cleanups all over the island of Oahu.
Youth Ocean Conservation Summit
Empowering the next generation of ocean conservationists
A special organization to us -- this annual summit brings youth together not just to learn about threats to our ocean from marine biologists and experts but also builds in the opportunity to problem solve through small group sessions that creates immediate impact. Now in their 10th year, YOCS is taking this year’s summit online, but already has satellite locations across the country.
The summits are for youth from upper elementary to college, and we've seen first-hand there truly is no age limit to innovation. This year’s summit takes place this Saturday, December 5th, and you can register here.
SeaHugger (HI + CA)
Dedicated to protecting and healing the marine environment from plastic pollution
Committed to reducing our plastic dependency, Sea Hugger offers education and action as the antidote and solution to the plastic crisis. In addition to local clean ups, Sea Hugger works to protect the marine environment and create sustainable communities unaffected by the plastic pollution crisis. Four areas of focus include education, innovation, reduction, and action. Sea Hugger sponsors an innovative recycling program in South Africa, Litter4Tokens, which turns marine debris into tokens used for goods.
Black Girls Surf, Inc.
Black Girls Surf supports girls/women whose career goals are competing in the professional surfing
US Coast Guard veteran Rhonda Harper noticed a lack of visibility and representation in professional surfing, and decided to change it. Through fundraising, Black Girls Surf supports aspiring surfers by sending them to train with surfing professionals who look like they do -- she became the mentor she needed.
Access Surf
AccesSurf builds an inclusive community that empowers people with disabilities through accessible beach and water programs
This Hawaii-based program started in 2006 with a few determined people and “lots of duct tape” and has now grown into an organization pioneering adaptive surfing and watersports, offering programs for Wounded Warriors, adaptive swim clinics, among many others. A few of their participants have even gone on to become a Paralympic athlete at the Rio Olympics. This group is proof that with determination and support, anything is possible.
