21 Vol. 83, No. 1 | Proceedings this program will reduce drowning risks and promote safer boating practices. Additionally, the foundation’s Sober Skipper Campaign encourages a Don’t Drink and Boat message, urging the boat operator to not consume alcohol. Spirit of America Foundation Mentor, Ohio The Spirit of America offers unique, safe, and comprehensive water-based educational and recreational programs. Funding provides various hands-on boating education for youth around the country, bringing interest to a new generation of future boaters. United States Power Squadrons/America’s Boating Club Raleigh, North Carolina The United States Power Squadrons/America’s Boating Club is dedicated to boating safety and education. Their Boat Live 365/America’s Boating Channel promotes and sustains the promotion of content and year-round view- ership of the America’s Boating Channel’s video catalog promoting recreational boating safety themes. The chan- nel is available on streaming services, like YouTube. Water Solutions Group Chesapeake, Virginia Water Solutions Group provides training tools, programs, and activities that maximize safety for recreational boat- ers. Through the www.RentalBoatSafety.com website, Water Solutions Group launched a national rental boat safety campaign to educate rental customers and equip rental liveries with essential safety resources. This initia- tive enhanced safety awareness among non-traditional boaters and improved operational safety standards for rental liveries. Water Sports Foundation Orlando, Florida The Water Sports Foundation was founded on the prem- ise that a safer boating culture saves lives and that more should be done to reduce senseless boating incidents. There have been many Water Sports Foundation out- reach projects funded including creation of a Search Engine Content Marketing project to engage boaters and pad dlers when they actively search for information online. Other projects include collaboratiion with marine industry leaders and trade press to amplify boating and paddling safety messages and increase awareness of paddlesports safety. These projects combine social media, true stories, and targeted outreach to promote recreational boating and paddling safety. Video pub- lic service announcements, search-optimized articles, newsletters, and social media campaigns inform and persuade audiences to adopt safer boating behaviors. Additionally, collaboration with leading boating and paddling media brands and social media influencers helps increase awareness of Level 50 life jackets. Wildlife Forever/Future Anglers Foundation White Bear Lake, Minnesota Wildlife Forever’s mission is to safeguard America’s wildlife heritage through conservation education, pres- ervation of habitat, and management of fish and wildlife. Its National Boating Safety Education Expansion project educates the public about boating safety, positively influ- encing recreational boater behavior using the unprec- edented impact of the broadcast airtime value on the Emmy-winning Into the Outdoors Education Network. Conclusion These organizations save lives. Since the founding of the Coast Guard’s National Nonprofit Organization Recreational Boating Safety Grant Program, these national nonprofit organizations have helped the Coast Guard, the states, and our nation’s recreational boaters reduce deaths to the lowest in the program’s history. The Coast Guard is excited about continuing the innovations in prevention and looks forward to the many creative projects our colleagues will propose to serve the American public in the future. About the Authors: Pavlo Oborski is the Grants Management Branch chief within the Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary & Boating Safety. More than 16 of his 28 years of federal grant administration experience have been with the Coast Guard. His responsibilities include financial oversight of the State, Nonprofit Organization, and Survey Grant Programs; and advising Coast Guard Leadership on grant administration. Barry Nobles reported to U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in 1999 and currently serves as legislative coordinator and facilitate the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and the Strategic Plan of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program. He’s been a recreational boater since 1974 and serves his community as a lifeguard and stand-up paddle board instructor. Endnotes: 1. 46 U.S.C. § 13104(c). The remaining 95% is distributed to the State RBS Grant Program 2. https://uscgboating.org/content/strategic-plan.php For a closer look at grant awards by years, please visit https://bit.ly/4qBDVIc For more information
