one by one®: Surfari Pals
While growing up in a small suburb of Los Angeles, Kip Cummings and his neighborhood friends found a mentor in a man they called Mr. Monty. Mr. Monty was a positive influence on many kids in the community, not just repairing bikes, scooters and skateboards, but also teaching life lessons and helping them understand right from wrong. As an adult, Cummings and his wife, Jennifer, launched a nonprofit program they hope can play the role of Mr. Monty for a new generation of students.
Surfari Pals is a character development-based program for elementary-age children in northwest Louisiana. Based in Shreveport, Surfari Pals runs a summer camp and brings its programming to local schools. “We teach things like soft skills, life skills, manners, etiquette and conflict resolution,” said Jennifer Cummings, executive director. “We use a whole-child approach to give them the tools they need to succeed and thrive in the world around them.”
Setting students up for a lifetime of success
Along with instilling positive values and traits in children from an early age, Surfari Pals aims to create a world where integrity and accountability are highly valued. The program is designed to be interactive, engaging and fun, so not only do participants learn valuable lessons, but also they have fun doing it.
Part of the fun is the ocean and surf themes splashed throughout. Having grown up in Southern California close to the Pacific Ocean, Kip chose to make the beach part of the brand. That’s true from the name and graphics to the songs and activities that make up the lessons. “Even as a child, Kip says he remembered thinking he wanted to be like Mr. Monty,” Jennifer said. “He just has this amazing knack for connecting with children. He’s able to communicate very clearly with them. Children love him.”
Water bottles for students stress importances of hydration
A one by one grant provided Surfari Pals with water bottles for students attending its three-week-long summer camps. Given the Louisiana heat, hydration ties into the education about wellbeing and healthy eating habits. Once camp is finished, students take the water bottles home and can use them during the school year.
Jennifer was thrilled to find water bottles that fit the necessary parameters for students in school. For example, teachers prefer soft plastic bottles that fit in a backpack sleeve and don’t require caps be removed for drinking. She found the perfect item—and it’s even called a Surf Sport Bottle, aligning with the beach theme.
The grant made a big difference. Providing healthy foods for the students is a priority and Jennifer said the high cost of those foods presented challenges while preparing for camp. “When we were awarded the grant, I literally moved the money I had in the budget for water bottles into the food budget and we were able to have fresh fruits and vegetables and really good, healthy foods for the kids to eat and try,” she said. “It was extremely impactful.”
A note from Cheryl
Surfari Pals is a fun and impactful organization with a unique mission and approach. It’s wonderful to be able to show support, even in a small way, like by providing water bottles for students attending summer camp. If you’re interested in a one by one grant, visit onebyone.4imprint.com.