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

Brooks Lambert Founder
Three of Brooks’ passions unite at Best Day Foundation; children, adventure sports, and creating thriving enterprises.
Wallace Whittier Board President
I am involved in Best Day because I love working with committed people to provide an adventurous experience for kids who otherwise might not be able to experience what I love the most, the ocean.
Nancy Pedersen Board Member, Co-Chairperson
Nancy fell in love with Best Day and its ability to bring so many varying members of the community together to create magic on the beach.
Girard Andrew Tabañag Project & Systems Manager
I enjoy helping others get things done and achieve their goals.

It melts my heart when I see videos and photos of kids enjoying their Best Day and knowing that I played a small part in making that happen.

Lauren Dunning Compliance Coordinator

Lauren is so happy to be able to combine her passion for the ocean and for serving others by being a part of the Best Day team.
Shannon McMahon Social Media Coordinator
Shannon combines her love for children and the ocean as a volunteer and leading Best Day’s social media programs

New Jersey Team

Alexis Downham Co-Chairperson
Passion, enthusiasm and pure joy – that’s what Best Day means to me
Lake Downham Co-chairperson
Lake is a waterman, rescue & survival expert, and passionate for sharing the joy of the ocean. The thrill he gets from taking our campers surfing is the single most rewarding aspect of his life.
Faye Gilmore Volunteer Coordinator
I love that Best Day brings our local communities together! We could not run our events without our volunteers who come out year after year to give children that they have never met a day at the beach. The smiles on the faces of both participants and volunteers is incredibly heart warming!
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.

KC Yoon Media Coordinator
“To me Best Day is about serving others and putting smiles on faces! Spending the day at the beach with friends new and old is the cherry on top!”
Suzanne Carbone Community Awareness Coordinator
“The joy and enthusiasm I feel watching these kids and their families enjoy their “best day” is so rewarding!”
Paul Podesla Fundraising Coordinator
“Best Day is a blessing for all involved. Taking in the smiles from the kids and their families on the beach is indescribable, a day that truly lives up to its name!”

Orange County CA Team

Mike Prestridge Co-Chairperson
Mike’s first experience as a volunteer was literally a “Best Day” in his life as he was able to share his love for the ocean and beach with children who might not otherwise ever have that opportunity.
Clayton Beaver Volunteer Coordinator
“Grateful to share my love for the ocean with kids who may not normally get to go to the beach. Living for wipeouts, splash fights and pizza eating contests.”
Kevin Carter Co-Chairperson
Proud and honored to work with an enthusiastic, loving and caring group of Best Day volunteers to share our love of the ocean with children of all abilities.
Chris Martin Co-Chairperson
Chris is very excited to be a part of such an amazing foundation and the enjoyment he gets from his involvement with the Best Day kids is second to none.

Dennis Morrow Fund-raiser/Team Surfer
Dennis is a water man, surfing, sailing, who love helping children enjoy the water and admits he’s in it for the giggles and smiles.

Santa Barbara CA Team

Heather Smith Co-Chairperson

Heather enjoys bringing smiles and ocean experiences to both the Best Day participants and the wonderful volunteers who make the events so successful.
Jen Gamez-Sparrow Chapter Co-Chairperson
Sharing my love of the ocean with kids who may not have the same opportunities that I do brings me great joy.
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!”
Ann Pieramici Media Coordinator
“Having family members with special needs has helped me appreciate the value of programs like Best Day. Kids get to be kids for the day and experience the joy and possibility of the ocean.”

Robin Elliott Chapter Team Member
Robin combines her appreciation of the outdoors with her goal of helping children with special needs to thrive by sharing her time and skills with Best Day.
Mike Wathen Water Teams Leader
Nothing beats a good day at the beach! Sharing riding a wave is my favorite part of Best Day Foundation.
Shannon McMahon Social Media Coordinator
Shannon combines her love for children and the ocean as a volunteer and leading Best Day’s social media programs

Ventura CA Team

Nancy Pedersen Board Member, Co-Chairperson
Nancy fell in love with Best Day and its ability to bring so many varying members of the community together to create magic on the beach.
Dan Brill Co-Chairperson
Dan is a former competitive surfer and extreme athlete and enjoys sharing his passion and skills at Best Day.
Mike McElvaney Safety Coordinator
There is no greater reward than seeing the face of a kid after getting their first wave on a surfboard. That and at the end of the day, asking the same kid if they got any good rides. The look of pride and stoke is priceless.
Robin Elliott Chapter Team Member
Robin combines her appreciation of the outdoors with her goal of helping children with special needs to thrive by sharing her time and skills with Best Day.

Florida Team

Jaime Vanacore Co-Chairperson
Stoked for the opportunity to share my love for the ocean with the children in South Florida. Let’s get caught in the moment.
Paul Vanacore Co-Chairperson
A little bit of love goes a long way
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!
Lindsay Moore Participant Coordinator
Bringing smiles to others is what life is all about.

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.
James Moore Water Safety Coordinator
The ocean and helping people, two things that I am passionate about.
Daniella Anderson Beach Safety Coordinator
Surfing gives me a feeling that I’ve never experienced in any other sports. Can’t wait to spread the love.
Tatsu Evans Media/Social Media Coordinator
Stoked to get some kids out, and experience the magnificence of the ocean.

Sam Knoeppel Water Team Coordinator
Together, we can have the Best Day ever!

San Diego County CA Team

Kalle Palmer Volunteer Coordinator
Being in and near the ocean is a magical experience and I am overjoyed to help make it accessible to everyone!
Carl Tulberg
“I love working with Best Day because their inspirational mission to serve special needs children is well matched with joy and enthusiasm for our beautiful oceans.”
Jeff Capell Water Team Coordinator
Sharing smiles with kids and parents always makes it a Best Day.
Rachel Amato Chapter Co-Chairperson
I’m thrilled to be part of Best Day because I cannot think of a better way of spending my time than helping bring more joy to children.

Chesapeake Bay Team

Nate McCreary Fund-raising Coordinator
“Giving children a meaningful experience is what Best Day does, but lifting the hearts of the volunteers and family is really what Best Day is all about.”
Tracy McCreary Chapter Co-Chairperson & Marketing Coordinator
“Best Day isn’t an event, it’s and experience — for the children, their families and the volunteers. It’s smiles, it’s laughter, it’s connections. It IS the Best Day!”
Malia Peer Media Coordinator
“So excited to join the Best Day team and be apart of an amazing event that brings the community together for the best day ever!”

Mark Peer Media Coordinator
“Best Day provides children with the purest form of stoke in the world”
Samantha “Sam” Barham Participant Coordinator
“Best Day means coming together as one for the love of water”
Suzanne Carbone Community Awareness Coordinator
“The joy and enthusiasm I feel watching these kids and their families enjoy their “best day” is so rewarding!”

Alexis Downham Co-Chairperson
Passion, enthusiasm and pure joy – that’s what Best Day means to me

Los Angeles Team

Jared Epstein Volunteer Coordinator
Upon moving to Southern California, Jared quickly realized the ‘best day’ truly begins on the beach and in the ocean in any capacity – surfing, swimming, snorkeling, body surfing, etc. The ocean is magical and he wants to help anyone and everyone to be able to experience that magic!
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.
Kim Prichard-Landa Fundraising Coordinator
Beach + Kids Smiling = Amazing opportunity to be part of the Best Day Foundation
Shanden Brutsch Chapter Chairperson
Before she could walk, Shanden was swimming in the ocean. From an early age she identified the beach and the water as her place of peace and freedom. She is honored to be part of Best Day and share the freedom it offers with children in Los Angeles.