In 2007, Sea Tow Services International received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for creation of a national public service organization entitled Sea Tow Foundation. Created by Sea Tow founder, Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer, the Sea Tow Foundation promotes safe boating practices and educational initiatives that directly reduce accidents, fatalities and property damage related to recreational boating.
The Sea Tow Foundation operates a number of boating safety programs year-round to help ensure that boaters can have a safe and fun time on the water.
Their Life Jacket Loaner Program has operated since 2008 and provides life jackets that boaters can borrow and return free of charge at locations around the country to help prevent drowning. The Life Jacket Drive component helps collect new and gently used life jackets that can be repurposed on loaner stations. Find a loaner station close to you at www.boatingsafety.com/map.
The Sea Tow Foundation’s Sober Skipper Program asks boaters to make the safe choice to be or to designate a sober skipper before each boating trip with a goal to eliminate boating under the influence accidents. Boaters can take the Sober Skipper Pledge at www.boatingsafety.com/soberskipperpledge.
The newest program to be adopted by the Sea Tow Foundation is a Flare Disposal Program which is setting up locations where expired marine flares can be properly disposed without harming the environment. This will begin as a pilot project in Florida in 2021 and the goal is to expand into other states after that.
The Sea Tow Foundation works closely with the U.S. Coast Guard as well as a number of for-profit and non-profit organizations to convey the safe boating message to the nation’s recreational boaters.
As a non-profit organization with no dedicated funding, the Sea Tow Foundation relies solely on grant funding and donations to carry out its mission. There is much more that the Sea Tow Foundation would like to do to make boating safer, but we can only do these things if we have the proper funding. Please consider supporting the Sea Tow Foundation by making a tax-deductible donation. Together, we can make sure that boating continues to be a safe and enjoyable pastime for everyone.
