
All About Best Day
Mission
Best Day Foundation enables children and young adults with special needs to build confidence and self-esteem through adventure activities which stretch their limits, expand their true potential, reinforce their achievement, & connect them with diverse populations in their community.
Special needs supported;
- Autism
- Blindness
- Cancer
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cystic fibrosis
- Down syndrome
- Muscular dystrophy
- Other injury, illness or developmental challenges
Current activities include;
- Tandem surfing
- Body boarding
- Kayaking
- SUP (stand up paddling)
- Outrigger canoeing
- Beach activities
- Snow sports
Strategy
We achieve this by empowering communities across the country to offer special days at the beach and snow to children with special needs. Best Day provides back-end services, support, training, and business resources to ensure that safe, self-sufficient programs are created. The program is funded through donations, grants and sponsorships.
Best Day currently has chapters serving;
- Chesapeake Bay Virginia and Northern North Carolina
- Florida
- New Jersey
- Los Angeles county California
- Orange county, California
- San Diego, county, California
- Santa Barbara county, California
- Ventura county, California
History
Best Day is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit (Tax-ID 26-2223078) founded in March 2008 in Santa Cruz, CA by Brooks Lambert and Max Montgomery, two long-time Ride a Wave volunteers who wished to share a similar program with other communities.
Headquarters Team
New Jersey Team
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John & Tricia Henkes Participant & Water Teams Coordinators
Were hooked volunteering as a family at the very first Best Day events. Their son Brodie enjoys volunteering because he likes making the day feel like its the Super Bowl or Olympics for the kids we serve.
Orange County CA Team
Santa Barbara CA Team
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Emily Zacarias Volunteer Coordinator
“Supporting children and young adults with special needs is a life-long passion for me. I love every aspect of this day–from the enthusiastic volunteers, to the parents cheering their kids on, to the smiles of all the participants as they ride the waves–it truly is the Best Day ever!”
Ventura CA Team
Florida Team
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Paul Vanacore Co-Chairperson
A little bit of love goes a long way
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Lindsay Moore Participant Coordinator
Bringing smiles to others is what life is all about.
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Eric Weitkamp Fund-raising/Sponsor Coordinator
I spend most of my days working on me to better my life… this an
opportunity to do the same for someone else’s. I’m in! -
Tom Crownover Volunteer Coordinator
In a world filled with worthy causes, I decided that the best way to make an impact would be to combine my passion for adventure with the organization that cast the widest net of opportunity.
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James Moore Water Safety Coordinator
The ocean and helping people, two things that I am passionate about.
San Diego County CA Team
Mid-Atlantic Team
Los Angeles Team
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Lindsay Bloomfield Marketing Coordinator
As a native Californian, Lindsay has always believed that the best days start at the coast and is excited to work with a caring group of volunteers to share the love of a great beach day and the healing energies of the ocean with the children of her favorite city, Los Angeles. When she’s not at the beach, Lindsay’s hard at work at E! News heading up their digital product group or practicing yoga, listening to country music and hanging out with friends and family.