WOW! I am blown away!

[goboardgo]

Words can hardly describe the feeling I get when I hear awesome stories from across the country about sharing water sports with those that are less fortunate. I was watching this video from 2010 and makes me realize how far Wake the World has spread. At the time the video was made, the only events were in North Carolina and Texas (around 30 boats total). This last year, 43 events in 28 states! (450+ boats).

Thank you to everyone out there that loves to share water sports with others. If you are the kind of person that loves sharing water sports with others, let me know. It has never been easier to start your own Wake the World event. Come join our family!

[jimidemo]

To piggy back on goboardgo's thread and share at WTW story.....I have had the privilege of being a part of 3 of these events here in AZ. Every time we go we are reminded how truly blessed we are to be able to spend time on the water as a family and really not think twice about it. Heck a day on the water is "normal" for most of us right? This last September's event there were 4 girls on our boat and their house parent which is usually typical. We spent most of the day knee boarding and tubing. This is the ONLY day I don't complain about driving for too much tubing. After the house parent and one of the young ladies came back in the parent shared with me that the girl commented that this was the best day of her life!! Look forward to WTW AZ 2018.

[SONIC]

At risk of being an *** here to take it as you will:

This seems ridiculous to me. If you want to help someone give the 200 bucks you blow on gas for a full day of tubing with a full boat to the children's home and you'll do a lot more good than you ever would on the lake.

Seems like a way for people to feel good about themselves not a way to really help anyone.
With 450 boats at 200/pop in gas you're looking at 90grand. 90 grand could really do some good. Taking kids out for a day of fun is great, but at the end of the day they have to go home to their under funded group home and be reminded of something they are likely to never have.

Make a mandatory donation to match your gas money for the day and I'll change my opinion

[UNSTUCK]

I'll bet you that 90 grand you speak of that if it was donated the kids would see very little benefit from it, at least that they would recognize. But to hear you just gave a needy kid "the best day of their life". To give them a memory they will cherish, likely forever, seems like a no brainer to me.

I have no reason to own a boat or go boating without without my family. I get very little enjoyment myself. But seeing my kids having fun, learning a new trick, getting up for the first time, etc. That is why I do it. That is why they love it. We love taking their friends and other families along, for the same reason. It's something new and something they will enjoy and likely remember for a long time. How cool is it to be apart of something like that.

[D&P Powell]

This seems ridiculous to me.

The beautiful thing about donating anything to anyone is that it's MY donation. What I choose to do with my money and how I may (or may not) donate it is my business, and my business alone. To criticize how or where someone else is donating their money or time baffles me. In my opinion, they are donating - who am I to question it? I personally don't understand why people donate millions overseas when there are many struggling in their own back yard, but at the same time I wouldn't chastise them for it. Their money, their option to do with it whatever they want.

[dakota4ce]

I agree—experience is priceless, and almost in an entirely different category. To suggest that the money is worth more than the day itself simplifies it too much.

Sure—people need food, shelter, medicine and these kids need it more than most. But often the biggest deficit they suffer is emotional. Love, happiness, joy and excitement are often very rare for them, and you can’t price that out. You just can’t. Your mandatory donation idea is a GOOD one, but don’t ever discount the value of those laughs and thrills. They’re invaluable.


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[bsreid]

We need a like button on this site^^^^

[mikemcclain8]

Agree

We need a like button on this site^^^^

Agree ^^^^^

I am part of a not for profit that gets people with disabilities into outdoor recreation through assistive devices/equipment including hunting, fishing, ice hockey, and water sports. We hold a yearly day at the lake with wounded warriors and other disabled individuals. We provide the boat, food, drinks, and two local college water ski teams to assist with the skiers. The expression we see when the person first gets up on the ski is priceless. Sure, they have other needs, but often those are met by other organizations. We provide a service, free of charge, that no other group does. To me, that makes it valuable to the people we serve.ski.jpgski 2.jpg

[freeheel4life]

I can see both sides of the coin. Can also testify though to the feeling of making it happen for kids that would never have the opportunity otherwise. The last two years I go up every Wednesday night during July and drag kids around on the tube all night. All are disabled, with many different conditions from severe autism, to CP, and a BIG group of vision impaired kids. The blind kids are my favorite as the sensory experience for them REALLY gets them going. My boss supplies the boat and gas though, I am just supplying my time so for those of you putting up your boat and gas I say good on ya!!!
Its the only time I will happily drag a tube around for hours on end. Cant wait for next July!!
Could the money get put into more tangible things like clothes, backpacks, food, etc. Sure it could, but providing the experience while not tangible, is a huge service to a group of kids that wouldn't have the chance otherwise.

[jimidemo]

Yeah but $90,000/ (43 events x 50 kids per) = $41.53 per kid who attended. Once you break it down like that....come on.

[dakota4ce]

It’s gas money, donated. Good grief not even worthy of a discussion. Awesome program. Paying passion and fun forward.


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[Bakes5]

Like any good elitist liberal welfare strategy, the $90k would be given to a non profit charity, who would take 75% off the top, mismanage 20%, get 5% to the needy and take enough propaganda pictures to make it look like 95% gets to the intended population.

The whole point of this is to get people out on the lake who would never get to otherwise....not donate to some bleeding heart fake charity.

Anywho, feel free to donate $200 to the charity of choice. Just don’t come over here telling us how we should donate our time and money. I’ve seen enough over the years to know better. Anyone remember friends of scouting? Got such a bad rap, it’s now called Investment In Character and it’s still just a money grab for suckers. How about Girl Scout cookies...anyone hazard a guess how much a girl scout takes home for each box? My point is that instead of donating to Friends of Scouting or Buying girl Scout cookies where the scouts take home small fractions if anything, spend the $$ directly on the Scout and bypass the leaching organization.

Let me guess....”free” college and medical care as well?

[Jetdriver]

Poor kids can’t afford to be in the Boy/girl Scouts. Ask me how I know.
Your money, your time, spend both wisely. Memories last a long time!

[goboardgo]

Donating money is nice.

These kids need encouragement. I dare say that there is no one more encouraging than a boat driver trying to get you up for the first time. Think about when you learned, how many times did the driver say, "Try it again one more time."

Most of these kids come from homes that are living off the system and have no desire to do better. Entitlement programs have sucked the ambition out of them. Spending time on the water with someone, helping them overcome their fears, and sharing their joy of success, that is where real differences can be made. It is not just about the day. It is about changing your perspective of what is possible. We have had kids come back years later and say that they were in college now because of the encouragement they received at the lake. The impact you can have on a child's life by spending an afternoon with them is worth way more and has a longer lasting effect than money.