Over the years, I’ve had the honor and pleasure of getting to know and work with many passionate and action-oriented citizens on the Suncoast, people who turn their concerns into accomplishments. While Suncoast Aqua Ventures was created by a handful of friends in 2016, in my experience there is, generally, a particular individual that inspires and exemplifies the spirit of the NGO (non-profit). In the case of Suncoast Aqua Ventures, that person is Cheryl Huntsinger. In her own words, she explains what inspires and drives the group.
“Troy Brown, Robin Woloszyn and I, along with a bunch of friends that scuba dive and love the water, became concerned with the human trash and debris we discovered on the offshore reefs and our inland waterways. In response, we created a one-of-a-kind competitive event called The Reef & Beach Cleanup. We give cash and prizes in numerous categories to the teams who compete. This is a fun, family-friendly event that, to date, has collected over 97,000 pounds of marine debris from our waterways. Our volunteers come from all ages and all walks of life. They are water enthusiasts, kayakers, fishermen, scuba divers and anyone who has a passion for our beautiful aquatic ecosystem.
”Post-COVID we started partnering with numerous other like-minded organizations, including Sarasota Bay Watch, Keep Manatee Beautiful, Suncoast Waterkeeper and Suncoast Reef Rovers. We perform targeted tactical cleanups in areas most people don’t even know trash exists – underwater reefs, shoreline cleanups deep in the mangroves and, when there is a need, post-hurricane cleanup events. Our partnership events have collected well over 130,000 pounds from numerous events since 2021.
“We have a busy summer planned, starting with the Second Annual Underwater Cleanup of the Manatee River on May 11. This event will be followed by a cleanup at Bowlees Creek based out of Bahia Mar West Marina on June 15, and a cleanup of Perico Bayou and Palma Sola Bay on Aug. 3. Our last event of the season will be the Eighth Annual Reef & Beach Cleanup on Sept. 28-29 at Seabreeze Park in Terra Ceia.
“We are always looking for new participants and donors to help fund our cleanup efforts! For more information on any of our events, please visit suncoastaquaventures.com or email us at suncoastaquaventures@gmail.com.”
It’s the work of these local NGOs, their leaders and members that inspire people to preserve this paradise and give them a way to participate in protecting it. If you’re looking for an opportunity to give back, join an event and, as Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
