What: Surfers for Autism, 7th annual First Coast Beach Festival
When: August 20th 9am – 4pm
Where: Flagler Beach Pier
Contact: Dave Rossman, dsrman747@gmail.com
Surfers For Autism Returning To The First Coast For 7th Annual Beach Festival!
Surfers for Autism is returning to the First Coast August 20th for their seventh annual beach festival, and Flagler Beach will once again transform into an oasis of acceptance and inclusion. 200 children, young adults and their families will experience a day they once thought impossible. What began in 2007 as a small group of locals teaching a few children with developmental delays to surf has morphed into a massive 14-city tour that draws thousands. Children and young adults with autism and related developmental delays spend the day being guided into waves by expert instructors, and the results are consistently staggering.
“Last year was Ryan’s first time at an SFA event, and I will admit that my personal expectations for a great experience were low. This was due to the fact that earlier in the week he would not put his feet in the sand, much less get close to the water. It only took a few minutes for me to realize that I was wrong; what happens at an SFA event is amazing. My son is non-verbal and even though he didn’t speak after surfing, the smile on his face spoke volumes,” said Kerri Gordon.
These events are free for participating families, but the only way to ensure this continues is through strong sponsorship. Surfers for Autism is a well-oiled machine, and all donations impact the beneficiaries directly. Bud Castaldi has a long history of philanthropic support, and he marvels at the organization’s operation. “I’ve helped raise money with a dozen children’s charities over the last 30 years and this one is by far the best run organization I have seen. There is very little waste and they lead by example, which are two of the most motivating factors any charity can have,” he said.
