Giving back to our community is so important. We are excited to present Charleston Moms CARE, a series where we highlight different non-profits around the Lowcountry. We’ll tell you more about the organization and how you can get involved!
This month we are featuring Warrior Surf Foundation, providers of free surf therapy and other support to veterans and their families.
Last August, as my son’s second birthday was approaching, I found myself sitting in our playroom going through several bins of toys he no longer plays with. Knowing myself as well as I do, I definitely grumbled cuss words about wastefulness and excess like a grumpy old man cleaning out his garage.
It was at that moment that I made a sweeping “no gifts,” arm gestures, and a proclamation for his upcoming birthday party. In lieu of presents (seriously, we have enough), we asked those attending if they would consider making a donation to a local charity. Since we had picked a “totally two-bular” surf theme for his party, the choice of the nonprofit was a no-brainer: Warrior Surf Foundation.
Warrior Surf Foundation
Local to Folly Beach (nearly our backyard), the mission of Warrior Surf Foundation (WSF) is “to enhance veterans’ and their families’ physical and mental well-being through free surf therapy, wellness coaching, and community support. We harness the healing power of the ocean and the transformative experience of surfing to promote mental and physical well-being, resilience, and community for those who have served our country.”
Founded in 2015 by combat veterans and surfers in Folly Beach, the Warrior Surf Foundation is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit led by a team of eight, the large majority of whom have direct and personal experience with military life, and the struggles that go with it. This puts them in a unique position to provide an “outside the box” approach to healing.
Services Provided
WSF has served 800+ veterans and their families since its inception, as well as provided 2,100+ surf, yoga, and wellness lessons, and 3,200+ hours of direct contact with the veterans in the program since April 2023. Extremely impressive statistics for any nonprofit, let alone one that is less than 10 years old.
Ways to Get Involved
- Donate: Become a peer-to-peer fundraiser and create your own fundraising page to share with family and friends, or make a one-time or recurring monetary donation.
- Volunteer: If you would like to get involved and give back, fill out the volunteer application to get started.
- Participate: Attend the 8th Annual Surfboard Auction at Bohemian Bull on James Island on August 31st, and enter for a chance to win a custom surfboard! Not to mention a silent auction and a Jimmy Buffet look-alike contest! If you fancy yourself a surfer, enter the Jason Bowman Foam Frenzy Classic surf competition on September 28th!
- Word of Mouth: Like, follow, share, and tell your friends and family to do the same!
The team at WSF is doing amazing work for our veterans and active service members by providing alternate options to the current standard of care for healing trauma and reintegrating back into civilian life. These brave men and women, and their families, deserve the best chance at life after making the biggest sacrifices to defend our country, usually at great personal cost.
If you or someone you know is struggling with any combat or service-related trauma, please have them reach out to WSF for guidance on how their program could be of great benefit.
Thank you, Warrior Surf Foundation, for all you do for our veterans, active service members, and their families. It does not go unnoticed.
Learn more about Warrior Surf Foundation
Let’s show our community some love! Help us spread the word about your favorite Lowcountry non-profits by tagging us @charlestonmoms and using the hashtag #charlestonmomscare and we’ll share your pictures!
