Business Highlight: Freedom Waters Foundation
By: MIASF Staff
Date posted: Jun 28, 2022 Tue
This month’s member spotlight is on an organization that has been providing therapeutic boat experiences for individuals with special needs and veterans for more than 16 years in the South Florida community. Freedom Waters Foundation was founded by Debra Frenkel, a licensed social worker, and John Weller, a yacht broker and six-time cancer survivor in 2006, who teamed up under their shared passions of the marine industry and serving others.
Since then, this nonprofit organization currently works with more 125 boat owners and industry partners to provide more than 3500 on-the-water experiences annually primarily in South Florida including the counties of Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Broward, Palm Beach, and southern Martin. Two of their biggest events are annual fishing tournaments, Heels & Reels for at-risk teen girls and Buoys and Bait for at-risk teen boys, and their Adaptive Sailing Program, which provides an opportunity for children and adults with disabilities to learn to sail.
The organization originated in Fort Lauderdale, FL but currently works out of Naples, FL. Their team has plans already underway to grow to a national organization as they have expanded to Lake Lanier in Georgia and Lake Monroe in Indiana to provide boat outings for deserving individuals and their families.
You can learn more about this organization and their events on how to get involved by donating or volunteering on their website – www.freedomwatersfoundation.org.