Our Mission
To connect local youth to the James River and the Chesapeake Bay through education, outreach, recreation, and support of other local nonprofits.
Our Vision
We are building a future where local youth can learn more about the James River and the Chesapeake Bay, two bodies of water in desperate need of establishing better water quality standards and animal conservation. Our goal is to help improve both academic and recreational opportunities for local youth of all backgrounds.
Since 2000, we have been proud to support the Virginia Living Museum with over a $10,000 donation each year from our James River Striped Bass Tournament. In 2020, we raised $20,000 for the Virginia Living Museum. This donation takes months to fundraise for, and we could not be prouder that we help support conservation programs and exciting exhibits that local families get to attend each year.
In 2019, we took it further and started a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, Coastal Shores, Inc. We plan to continue supporting the local community, but we want to extend our efforts to helping other local nonprofits. We also started a scholarship, R.C. Scholarship, to help send youth who do not have access to the James River to a summer sailing camp.
In 2023, we started contributing the proceeds from the James River Striped Bass Tournament to the Tom & Ann Hunnicutt Family YMCA, with proceeds benefiting their Safety Around Water program. This initiative is vital to our community, aiming to equip children with essential swimming skills that could one day save their lives. With drowning being the second leading cause of accidental death among children in Virginia, programs like these are crucial. The YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas has committed to offering free water safety classes to over 7,000 second graders in our service area. Your sponsorship will help cover tournament costs and expand this lifesaving program, directly impacting thousands of young lives.
Board of Directors
Jessica Godfrey, President
Carol Abbitt, Vice President
Jessica Hardisty, Secretary
Jason Godfrey, Treasurer
Don Brown
Jeff Shoen
If you would like to make a donation or interested in helping out with our organization, please email dcl@deepcreeklanding.com. Your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Coastal Shores Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 Internal Revenue Service designation.
