May 9, 2005
Article

Life-saving Life Jacket Loaner Program for kids

Life Jacket Purchases At BoatUS-Store.Com Raises Funds For Foundation's Life Jacket Loaner Program For Kids

BoatUS-store.com has teamed up with the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water to provide additional funding for its life-saving Life Jacket Loaner Program for kids.

From May 1 to June 30, 2005, BoatUS-store.com will contribute $1 to the Foundation's loaner program for each life jacket purchased at the online store. The loaner program allows boaters to borrow a kid's life jacket for the day, afternoon or weekend at over 366 locations in 49 states. It has saved the lives of three children since its 1997 inception. Over 10,000 life jackets have been loaned to date.

"We are pleased to support the BoatU.S. Foundation's Life Jacket Loaner Program," said Tony Gasparich, vice president of Internet sales for BoatUS-store.com and WestMarine.com. "It's a terrific program that helps get kids out on the water safely." The online store at BoatUS-store.com is owned and operated by West Marine.

"Most parents understand the need for life jackets but they may not always have the proper size life jacket aboard," said BoatU.S. Foundation President Ruth Wood. "With West Marine's support, we will be able to improve the program and keep more kids safe on the water," she added.

The BoatU.S Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit education and research organization primarily funded by the voluntary contributions of 585,000 members of BoatU.S., the nation's largest recreational boat owners association. The Foundation operates more than a dozen programs including the only accredited, free, online general boating safety course, a low-cost EPIRB rental program, the "Help Stop the Drops" national clean fueling campaign, and grants for nonprofit groups for boating safety and environmental projects.

West Marine, Inc. is nation's largest specialty retailer of boating supplies and operates 383 West Marine and BoatU.S. stores in 38 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, with more than $680 million in annual sales. The company's successful catalog and Internet channels offer customers approximately 50,000 products. The company's Port Supply division is the country's largest wholesale distributor of marine equipment serving boat manufacturers, marine services, commercial vessel operators and government agencies. For more information on West Marine or BoatU.S. products and store locations, or to start shopping, visit http://www.WestMarine.com  or http://www.BoatUS-store.com  or call 1-800-BOATING (1-800-262-8464).