Sandy Feet Initiative

I started surfing at age 42, and it completely changed my life!  So much so, that I wanted to give back to the community in some way.  I began volunteering with several organizations that take people with disabilities surfing and boogie boarding.  I absolutely loved it!  But, I noticed the brothers and sisters of those kids on the beach, some playing games on their phone, some bugging their parents and others just napping!!!!  

Well, I got a “bug up my butt” and could not stop thinking about these kids, what their homelife must be like.  And then I made the fatal mistake of googling support groups for the siblings of children with special needs!

There was very little information and little to no support for these kids!  I couldn’t believe it!  But what I did find out is that they are often overlooked, take on a lot of responsibility for their sibling, and are often living on the edge of their seat, waiting for something to go wrong with their sibling.  They are the caregiver for their sibling for the rest of their lives.

Well, I couldn’t ignore it!  I was obsessed with doing something for these siblings!  So, in 2017, with a group of advisers, I started Sandy Feet Initiative!

Our biggest challenges is beach access, funding and getting to our families.  Beach access is very limited and expensive in California, we currently have programs in San Clemente, Dana Point, Mission Viejo, Huntington Beach and San Diego.   Funding is very limited for the siblings, since most funders don’t “see” them nor recognize they have very unique needs.  

Since 2017, Sandy Feet has served several hundred siblings of children with special needs, many who have continued to volunteer and work for us as they grow up.