February 20, 2013

NEWS from BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
BoatUS Press Room at www.BoatUS.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com

Vote Today for Your Favorite Boating Safety or Clean Water Grant Project

"The Stakes are Higher"
BoatUS Foundation Grants Now $10,000 Each

Caption: One of ten BoatUS Foundation Grassroots Grants winners for 2011, the Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean teaches kids about marine debris at an event in Boston MA, while recovering trash from the Charles River using a remotely operated vehicle.
Download hi-res photo.
 

ANNAPOLIS, Md., February 20, 2013 – The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is looking to the public to help it select the winning projects in the competitive 2013 Grassroots Grants Program, which provides local non-profit groups up to $10,000 to help educate boaters on safe and clean boating topics. Anyone with a love for the water is encouraged to go to either www.Facebook.com/BoatUSFoundation or www.BoatUS.com/foundation/grants/vote.asp to cast his or her vote.

Voting begins today, February 20th. Of the 7 grant proposals listed, those with the most votes by midnight (EST) on March 6th, 2013, will have their projects funded. Boaters can vote for their favorite project once a day until voting closes.
 
Grant funds come from donations by the half-million members of Boat Owners Association of The United States (www.BoatUS.com). In 25 years, the Foundation has awarded over $1.1 million to organizations that have developed creative projects to promote safe and clean boating on their local waterways.
 
“The stakes are higher now that we have increased funding of our individual grants from $4,000 to $10,000,” said BoatUS Foundation Program Manager Alanna Keating. “Your vote could really make a difference to recreational boaters in these grant project areas,” she added.
 
This year’s contenders are:
Access Monterey Peninsula, Inc of Monterey, CA
Littleton Firefighters Foundation of Littleton, CO
United State Coast Guard Auxiliary 1st District Northern of Weymouth, MA
Annapolis Green of Annapolis, MD
The Bass Federation of Ponca City, OK
Professional Anglers Association (PAA) of Kilgore, TX
Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean of Granville, VT
 
Up to $50,000 is available for BoatU.S. Foundation Grassroots Grants this year.
 
###
 
About the BoatUS Foundation:
 
The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating. Funded primarily by the half-million members of BoatUS, it provides innovative educational outreach directly to boaters and anglers with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of America's waterways and keeping boating safe for all. To make a tax-deductible donation to this 501(c)(3) nonprofit, go to www.BoatUS.com/foundation.