New USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Collegiate Grant Program now taking Applications and Donations

All but a few collegiate water ski teams are self-funded, with no assistance from the colleges/universities.  Teams are using old equipment, traveling long distances to compete, and have training costs of gas and insurance.

The Foundation has established a fund from which grants may be awarded to collegiate teams.  Funds will be used for unreimbursed team expenses such as equipment, travel (air, hotels, transportation), entry fees, and training expenses (boat gas, coaching, lake rental).   

Collegiate Water Ski Teams may apply year-round.  A small committee will review each application and decide if a grant will be given out two weeks after receiving the application.  The Grant Committee Chair will inform the team and the Foundation treasurer, and the funds will be sent to the team as soon as possible!

APPLY NOW: Download the application from our website and email the form to usawwf.grants@gmail.com

APPLY FOR A GRANT

DONATE NOW: Support Student-Athletes by contributing to the fund

DONATE NOW

OR Make checks payable to USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation, “Team Grant" in the memo.

Donations up to $2,500                                         Donations over $2,500

USA-WWF                                                                       USA-WWF

12961 Lerida Street                           6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd, #481

Coral Gables, FL 33156                                                 Winter Haven, FL 33884

PayPal to Donations@USA-WWF.org (Memo: "Team Grant")

QUESTIONS? EMAIL Brenda at usawwf.grants@gmail.com

Reflecting on 2023 and Looking Forward: A Message from Foundation President Ed Hickey

Dear USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation Members,

As the new year arrives, we thank members and sponsors for all the support in 2023. With your help, we are financially sound and can celebrate water skiing and wake sports through our many programs and events. Please consider renewing your membership or making a donation online HERE.

The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame Museum is open from 8-5 pm every day.

The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame Museum has been located at the Visit Central Florida Welcome Center for more than three years, thanks to the support of Visit Central Florida and Polk County Sports Marketing. They are good partners in our efforts to celebrate water skiing's past and support the future. If you have not visited the museum's new location at 101 Adventure Court in Davenport, Florida, make it happen today! It's a beautiful presentation of water skiing's history.

Kendra Nathan, 2023 Barbara Bolding Scholarship Recipient and Foundation Member

Our College Scholarship Program awarded tens of thousands of dollars this year to water sports student-athletes, and we anticipate even more money being handed out in 2024. Encourage all the young water skiers you know to apply before April 1. For a list of our scholarships and how to apply click HERE or consider donating to our scholarship fund.

The foundation has also established a Collegiate Team Grant Fund.  Funds will be used for unreimbursed team expenses such as equipment, entry fees, and training expenses. College Water Ski Teams can apply all year for financial assistance, and funds will be sent to the team as soon as possible! For more information, click HERE.

Correct Craft will no longer be operating the Elite Cable Park in Auburndale

We had some challenging news for our foundation as the year ended. Correct Craft terminated its lease for the Elite Cable Park in Auburndale, Florida. We're now putting the property we own up for sale. We will keep you posted on what happens.

The Museum Artifact Committee spent much of the past year going through the many items never displayed in the museum, which had been in a cold storage facility. After much work, the committee rescued these remaining items and sold them to a collector who will be displaying them at his new water ski-themed restaurant in Orlando, Florida.

The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled for April 6, 2024, at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven, Florida. Elaine Heller Fatla, Joe Knapp, Alex Lauretano, Jason Lee, Dennis Longo, and Dusty Schulz will be honored. Our event includes IWWF Hall of Fame Inductees Janifer Ellis, Dallas Friday, and Cathy Williams. For more information and to purchase tickets to attend the festivities, click HERE.

YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT MAKES ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE!

Please see our website and the latest copy of The Water Skier Magazine for more details about what we’re doing.  We’re looking forward to success in 2024.

-Ed

President@waterskihalloffame.com

DONATE NOW TO SUPPORT WATER SKI HISTORY WITH A QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION

Trustees and Friends,

This is a friendly reminder that “Taxpayers aged 70 ½ and over may donate up to $100,000 each year from their IRA to qualified nonprofits. This donation can include the RMD amount. Donating the RMD money (or more) to charity keeps it out of your taxable adjusted gross income. Giving money from your IRA to charity is called a Qualified Charitable Distribution, or QCD. It’s a tax strategy you should consider, especially if you already make charitable donations each year.”

If you, or anyone you know, is over age 70 ½ and still must make your mandatory RMD (required minimum distribution) from your IRA, you may direct the IRA to send the RMD directly to charity (hint – USA-WWF) and keep the RMD out of your taxable adjusted gross income. Our Foundation is always looking for donations to support our mission to “honor the achievements of our sports’ outstanding participants and support promising young athletes.” No amount is too small. Please help us spread the word about donating IRA RMDs directly to the Foundation. Please forward this email along to friends and family who may be interested!

Donations should be sent to:

USA-WWF TREASURER

6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd, #481

Winter Haven, FL 33884. Best, Brenda Nichols Tate USA-WWF, Secretary