Sailors for the Sea Launches Corporate Sponsorship and Engagement Program - Sailors for the Sea

Sailors for the Sea Launches Corporate Sponsorship and Engagement Program

Press Release

as Companies’ Interest Grow to Protect the Ocean

Sailors for the Sea, Be the change you want to sea, ocean conservation, boating, sailing

Newport, Rhode Island (June 13, 2017) – Sailors for the Sea, the leading global ocean conservation nonprofit that engages, educates, and inspires the sailing and boating community toward healing the ocean launched its Corporate Sponsorship and Engagement Program today. The new program offers companies increased visibility within the sailing and boating community, and provides the necessary funding for Sailors for the Sea, a nonprofit organization, to support their mission driven, high impact programs and initiatives.

The ocean is in crisis and needs boaters help more than ever. Environmental challenges are threatening marine life, our health – and the health of our children for generations to come. Issues include:

  • 8 million metric tons of plastic enters the ocean each year, enough to cover every coastline on earth
  • Since 1950, there has been a 90% drop in the numbers of the ocean’s large predatory fishes
  • Global ocean surface temperatures have warmed 1.5°F since 1880

The light shining through this dark news is that boaters care deeply about the ocean, and are taking action daily through Sailors for the Sea’s programs to reduce pollution, eat sustainably, and decrease their carbon footprint.

“Our corporate engagement program is a win-win for both us and sponsoring companies,” said R. Mark Davis, President of Sailors for the Sea. “We’ve had numerous companies sponsor our special events in the past and many have expressed the desire to expand their support for ocean conservation year-round. Through our award-winning programs and robust digital media platform we can showcase a company’s brand within the sailing and boating community on a global scale that is unparalleled and cost-effective. We are proud to engage more than one million people every year with our programs and social media, and our corporate sponsorship program will help us grow this impact significantly.”

Sailors for the Sea’s corporate sponsorship and engagement opportunities include overall organizational support at the Foundation, Partner, and Supporting levels. Additionally companies may sponsor their core programs, Kids Environmental Lesson Plans (KELP), Ocean Watch magazine, Green Boating Guide, and Clean Regattas, which were specifically created for the boating community.

Highlights of the programs include:

  • KELP, marine science lesson plans created in partnership with leading education and research institutions, have been used to educate more than 100,000 students
  • Clean Regattas has been implemented by more than 1,100 regattas with over 400,000 sailors in attendance; the program will be recognized by the Green Sports Alliance as an Environmental Innovator of the Year at their annual summit on June 28th

Testimonial from a current sponsor:

“MJM Yachts became the sponsor of the Green Boating Guide because this environmental initiative aligns with our company’s goals of building sustainable boats that lower the carbon footprint and environmental impact of MJM owners. Sailors for the Sea is a world class organization that has practical programs backed by solid science that make a difference for our lakes, waterways and oceans,” said Bob Johnstone, founder and CEO of MJM Yachts.

For more information on this unique corporate social responsibility opportunity please contact:

Christina E. Thirkell
VP, Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagement
Sailors for the Sea
(O) 401-846-8900
(M) 617-515-3241
christina@sailorsforthesea.org

To learn more about Sailors for the Sea and how they are working with boaters to become catalysts for change visit www.sailorsforthesea.org.

About Sailors for the Sea
Sailors for the Sea is the world’s only ocean conservation nonprofit that engages, educates, inspires and activates the sailing and boating community toward healing the ocean. Its programs offer boaters tangible opportunities to create a legacy and make a difference. Since its start in 2004, Sailors for the Sea has worked towards building a community of ocean stewards by offering tools, education and inspiration so that sailors may become change agents, and harness the power of their passion to heal the ocean. Sailors for the Sea is headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island and has three affiliates; Sailors for the Sea Japan; Sailors for the Sea Portugal; and Sailors for the Sea Chile.