The Sea Tow Foundation’s Life Jacket Loaner Program is the largest of its kind in the world, with more than 1,300 stands across all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Established to prevent drowning, each stand has life jackets ranging in size from infant to adult extra-large that boaters can borrow and return free of charge to help ensure a safe day on the water. During the 2023 boating season, the Sea Tow Foundation received more than 250 Life Jacket Loaner Program applications from 46 states – a record number – which created a gap of 15,000 life jackets between what communities and organizations need and what the Sea Tow Foundation was able to provide through grants and donations.

As a result, the Sea Tow Foundation called on the boating industry to help support their Life Jacket Loaner Program and fill the gap by donating life jackets. Newell Brands, a leading global consumer goods company, answered the call by donating more than 10,000 Stearns and Coleman branded life jackets and floating cushions, which will help keep people safe across the country.

The quantity of donated life jackets and floating cushions went to the following:

• 1,200 life jackets were shipped to the Sea Tow Foundation for distribution to Life Jacket Loaner Station Hosts across the country.

• 1,700 life jackets were shipped to Sea Tow Venice in Florida as a central distribution point to help replenish supply and re-establish loaner stations hosted by them and other groups in Southwest Florida that were affected by Hurricane Ian last fall.

• 7,300 life jackets and floating cushions were made available for existing Sea Tow Foundation Life Jacket Loaner Station Hosts and boating safety groups to pick up from the Newell Brands warehouse in Kansas.

The Sea Tow Foundation has also facilitated a connection between Newell Brands and the nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations: Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc. and the Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Education Foundation to donate an additional 10,000 life jackets.