Urban Surf 4 Kids x JOLYN: Supporting Surf Therapy & Mentoring Programs

At JOLYN, we’re all about the water (in case you hadn’t noticed). Whether that’s in a pool, lake, ocean, river or your local duck pond. Everyone in the JOLYN community knows that the water can be so healing, and we believe that everyone deserves access to that power. That’s why we’re super excited to announce our support of Urban Surf 4 Kids. Urban Surf 4 Kids is a California based nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for healing and empowerment through surf therapy, mentorship and life skills achievement programs for youth in foster and at-risk communities. They have an upcoming fundraising event on October 17th to help raise 

We sat down with the Director of Urban Surf 4 Kids, Roxanne Avant to get the 411 for you about surf therapy and mentoring kids!

What does Urban Surf 4 Kids do?

We provide surf therapy camps, mentoring programs, life skills programs for teens that culminate in an all-expense paid trip to Hawaii, a STEM Mobile Surf Science lab, an Alumni Leadership Program and an In-Water Jr. Safety Team. Through the power of a small team and hundreds of volunteers, we are strengthening the community.

What was the motivation behind the founding of Urban Surf 4 Kids?

In the State of California, children living in foster care were legally not permitted to go into and experience the transformative healing power of the ocean. Urban Surf 4 Kids covered the liability insurance and sought court approval to be able to create ocean experiences through surf therapy for children and youth victims of violence, abuse, neglect and trauma.

How many kids have you been able to impact and bring through your program over the years?

We have served 1,000's of kids over the past 12 years. In 2019, we served nearly 1,000 kids ages 3-18 who were overcoming adversity, a diverse population with various ethnic backgrounds and living in underserved communities.

How can people get involved with Urban Surf 4 Kids?

We love our volunteers and always welcome more into our Ohana, (the Hawaiian term for chosen family). Volunteers can reach us on our "contact us" form on our website or DM us on our social channels @urbansurf4kids or urbansurf4kids.org.

Donations help fund our mission. We can't do what we do without champions like our friends at Jolyn and through the generosity and compassion from people like you. Our upcoming Light the Way Virtual Gala is on Saturday October 17, 2020 and mobile bidding is open to the public on the Handbid app. Bidders can enter to win a beach essentials prize bundle featuring a Jolyn.com gift card valued at $100! Enter today and support a wonderful cause!