Hi friends and family!

Back at it for 2025 -- crossing the open Atlantic on a paddleboard to raise money for kids' mental health programs on Long Island. Because, there's absolutely no easier way to do that.:)

If you remember, the event was canceled last year due to a hurricane.:( They are rolling over our eligibility for this year since you all helped me to raise 1500 last summer, but those funds have already gone to the programs who count on their support. So I am hoping to raise another $1500--believe me, kids' mental health is pretty darn important!!

Paddlers for Humanity is an amazing grassroots organization of crazy people who love nature and kids and anything you can do on the ocean with a board. In fact, this all started because board member Lars Svanberg got bored one day 20 years ago and decided to prone paddle over to BI with one of his buddies. They have been doing this for over 20 years, and have raised over $2M. You can learn more about them (and also sign up for the paddle!) at the following link: https://www.p4h.org/about

I've also copied info about the organizations they support below.

Thank you my dear ones!

Love,

Isabel

ABOUT PADDLERS FOR HUMANITY

The Block Challenge brings together a community of women, men, and students to achieve a goal beyond themselves - undertaking the physical and mental challenge of an open ocean paddle from Montauk to Block Island, with the purpose of bettering the lives of children.

Adventure, challenge, beneficence, and heart are the keystones of the organization.

Block Challenge paddlers agree to raise or donate a minimum of $1,500 to participate. In the spirit of the event and to have the greatest impact for the nonprofit organizations receiving the funds, most paddlers raise even more.​

To date, Paddlers for Humanity has given away almost 2 million dollars.

Acumen Fund -$5000 towards a microfinance project
Barrio Planta Project - $15,000 to support education programs
Block Island Volunteer Fire and Rescue - $2,000
Bridgehampton School - $179,500 to fund its Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports Program
Center Moriches School - $1,500 – Life Skills
buildOn - $110,000 - $80,000 to support East Hampton High School students school building
treks, and $30,000 to build a school in Nicaragua
Callen-Lorde - $7,500 to support its Health Outreach for Teens Program
College Scholarships to East Hampton High School Students - $45,000
Long Island Food Pantries - $28,250
EAC Network - $8,000 in support of the Children’s Advocacy Center
East Hampton Healthcare Foundation - $33,000 for children’s mental health initiatives
East Hampton Youth Lacrosse - $500
Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center - $105,000 to fund scholarships for economically
challenged children
East Hampton High School - $20,000 to support mental health initiatives
East Hampton Middle School’s Why Try Resiliency Program - $26,000
East Hampton Trails Preservation Society and Spokes People - $3,250 to maintain local trails
Family Service League - $188,000 to implement children’s and family mental health services in
Montauk and Springs
Hamptons Community Outreach - $7,500
Hamptons Lifesaving Association - $7,750 for vital equipment
Hoops 4 Hope - $17,000 for youth programs in South Africa and Zimbabwe
HSI – Housing and Services Inc – $23,000 towards an educational program for needy New
Yorkers
International Surgical Mission Support - $15,000
i-tri - $82,222 to support middle school girls’ triathlon training
LICOP - $55,500 to sponsor surf camps for autistic children in Montauk
Miracle House - $210,000
Montauk Community Garden - $5,000
Montauk Playhouse - $48,500 towards the Aquatic Center
OLA of East Hampton – Latino Advocacy Organization of Eastern Long Island $2,500
Project Most - $165,000 for the Arts and Culture and Summer Camp Programs at elementary
schools in East Hampton
PRASAD - $119,000 to the Children’s Dental Program
The Retreat - $137,182 towards the Family Services Program in East Hampton
Sax Leader Foundation - $5,000
Springs School - $7,194
Women’s Prison Association - $32,500 for the Family Education Program
Third House Nature Center - $5,000 for the Nature and Science Program in Montauk
The Wellness Foundation - $15,000 Wellness Kids Programs in Montauk
P4H Catastrophic Fund - $215,000

​See our Giving Guidelines here

​

Board of Directors

Ed Cashin, Co-chair

Fred Doss, Co-chair

Dan Farnham

Emily Hammond

Jeff Neubauer

Harvey O' Brien

Heather Saskas

Lea Stendahl

Lars Svanberg