Freedom Waters Foundation receives grant | Clubs and organizations
American Legion Post 404 Commander Lee Rubenstein, Freedom Waters Foundation Founder and Executive Director Debra Frankel, and American Legion Post 404 2nd Vice Commander Yvette Benarroch.
On July 24, 2024, the Florida American Legion Children and Youth Fund Committee awarded a grant totaling $5,000 to the Freedom Waters Foundation. According to Eunice Butts, chair of the Florida American Legion Children and Youth Fund, the grant will be used to provide therapy for forty additional children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
On August 9, 2024, American Legion Post 404 Commander Lee Rubenstein and 2nd Vice Commander Yvette Benarroch personally presented the grant to Debra Frankel, Founder and Executive Director of the Freedom Waters Foundation, at Marco Veterans Community Park.
“Our post believes in the mission of the organization and feels they are an excellent choice for this grant. The need in Southwest Florida is great,” said Rubenstein. He urged Florida American Legion leaders to support the Freedom Waters Foundation so they can continue to pursue their mission.
“I am associated with the Freedom Waters Foundation as a supporter and volunteer,” Benarroch said. In her letter to the Florida American Legion recommending the grant, Benarroch wrote, “Freedom Waters works closely with children’s hospitals, schools and other local organizations to provide therapeutic boating for children of all ages with many disabilities. It is humbling to witness the significant struggles these children face on a daily basis. The children are so happy when they get to boat that they forget about their personal problems. They smile and feel empowered when they are on the water, and parents see the joy on their children’s faces. I am honored to be associated with this organization.”
The Freedom Waters Foundation Meet and Greet for Veterans. Veterans and their spouses/guests fill the Naples Princess twice a year – on the Mondays before Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Vietnam veterans Vinnie Rinaldo and Roger Bonaccorsi volunteer at the Veterans Expo, representing and recruiting other veterans for the Freedom Waters Foundation.
According to Ms. Frankel, Freedom Waters Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with nearly 19 years of experience providing therapeutic boat trips for children and adults with disabilities, life-threatening illnesses, at-risk youth and veterans. Ms. Frankel says, “We started our veterans program in 2006 and are happy to say that 40% of those we send out on the water are veterans and their family members. We accomplish all of this by partnering with private and commercial boat owners who donate their time and use of their boats to share freedom and joy on and off the water, and this donation will allow us to offer more of these impactful boat trips.”
Children with special needs enjoy a day in the water aboard Pure Florida’s Double Sunshine with the Freedom Waters Foundation. Pure Florida donates to these Weller Day Boat excursions.
According to Freedom Waters’ website, through December 31, 2023, with just three full-time and two part-time staff members and the help of over 400 volunteers, they have offered over 4,500 on-water experiences. That’s nearly 1,000 more than last year.
To learn more about the Freedom Waters Foundation, visit their website at: freedomwatersfoundation.org.
