Costa Sunglasses donates $50,000 to Captains for Clean Water for the Hurricane Ian Disaster Relief Fund. Funds will go directly to providing supplies and operational support for ongoing relief and recovery efforts, including support for the local fishing community
Born in water and dedicated to protecting the aquatic world she calls home, Costa sunglasses continues to support Hurricane Ian efforts with a $50,000 donation to its longtime conservation partner Captains for clean water. The entire donation will go to the organization Emergency Disaster Relief Fund to help those affected by Hurricane Ian get back on their feet.
Costa and Hurricane Ian Relief
Hurricane Ian made landfall on Sept. 28 as a Category 4 hurricane, causing catastrophic damage to Southwest, Fla., home to many Costa partners and professionals. Costa, Captains for Clean Water and the Florida fishing community were some of the first responders to jump into action after the hurricane. They worked around the clock on rescue missions, setting up drop sites for critical supplies, cleaning up debris and distributing food and clean water to families in need. The initial response has been tremendous, but the work has only just begun. The road to recovery will be long, but Costa and Captains for Clean Water are in it for the long haul.
“Having been in Florida for the past 40 years, Costa is no stranger to hurricanes and the effects they have on our communities,” said Justin Cupps, Senior Vice President at Costa. “As soon as we learned the magnitude of this storm, we were in close communication with our friends at Captains For Clean Water, based in Fort Myers. It has been incredible to see their reaction and how they immediately jumped into action to do whatever was necessary, despite many of them losing their homes. As a trusted partner, we are honored to follow their lead and support our community and friends following the tremendous damage caused by Hurricane Ian.”
“Fishing guides don’t wait for someone else to take the lead on how to fix a problem, we get to work and do what needs to be done,” said Captains for Clean Water co-founder Chris Wittman. “Hurricane relief is not what our organization was created to do, but since this directly affects the people fighting with us for clean water, it’s our turn to fight for them – and Costa gets it. Always a phone call away, Costa has been on the ground alongside us to help with emergency relief efforts since day one. We are extremely grateful for their continued support and know that together, we will rebuild this devastated fishing community.”
Costa’s Hurricane Relief Story
Costa was born on the waters of Florida in 1983. Since then, the brand has been committed to protecting the aquatic world it calls home, including hurricane relief efforts. In 2017, after hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria devastated our coasts, Costa launched #OneCoast, a program to bring relief efforts to coastal communities affected by natural disasters through World Fishermen’s Relief Fund (WARF). Founded by Kosta and IGFAWARF provides financial assistance to local captains, guides and outfitters in the wake of major natural disasters.
The $50,000 donation was announced at the annual Captains for Clean Water Restoration Gala on Nov. 4 in Fort Myers, Fla. For additional information on how you can help through the Captains for Clean Water Emergency Relief Fund, visit www.Captainsforcleanwater.org. And for more information about Costa’s #OneCoast programme, visit www.CostaSunglasses.com.
About Costa sunglasses
As the first manufacturer of color-enhancing polarized sunglass lenses, Costa combines superior lens technology with unparalleled fit and durability. Costa has been producing the highest quality and best performance sunglasses and prescription (Rx) sunglasses for outdoor enthusiasts since 1983, and now its product portfolio includes optical frames. Costa’s growing cult brand status is directly related to its goal of providing high-quality products with a focus on sustainability and conservation, while the company works hard to protect the waters it calls home. From using sustainable and water-friendly materials to its Kick Plastic initiative, the IndiFly Foundation and meaningful partnerships with mission-related organizations, Costa encourages people to help protect the Earth’s natural resources in any way they can. Find out more at Costa’s website AND join the conversation Facebook, Instagramor I tweet at @CostaSunglasses.