Surfers Healing is a nonprofit organization that provides surf therapy camps for children with autism and their families.
Origin
- Founded in 1996 by professional surfer Israel “Izzy” Paskowitz and his wife, Danielle Paskowitz.
- The organization grew out of their experience raising their son, Isaiah, who was diagnosed with autism at age three and, like many autistic children, dealt with sensory overload.
- Izzy, son of surfing legend and physician Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, began taking Isaiah out on a surfboard and found the rhythm and weightlessness of the ocean had a calming, grounding effect.
Mission
Surfers Healing seeks to enrich the lives of people living with autism by exposing them to surfing, and to give their families a day where their kids get to be seen for what they can do. Camps are entirely free to attend.
How a Camp Works
- Volunteer surfers, called “healers”, pair one-on-one with a child and take them out on a tandem board to catch waves together.
- Camps are staffed almost entirely by volunteers, covering roles like beach setup, registration, t-shirts, food, goodie bags, and family relations support for parents.
Scale
- Camps run across California, Hawaii, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia Beach, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, with past expansion into Toronto, Canada.
- Reaches thousands of children and families annually, organizational materials cite serving over 4,500 children and families a year across all camp locations.
- The Virginia Beach camp alone has grown from 75 children in its first year to over 450 across a two-day event today.
Music & Culture Ties
- Surfers Healing benefit events have featured performances by artists including Sarah McLachlan and Jackson Browne, whose intimate set at a Dana Point benefit helped raise roughly $200,000 for a year of programming.
- Jason Mraz and surfer/musician Rob Machado are among its longtime celebrity supporters.
- The organization’s North Carolina chapter has run a “One Perfect Summer” charity CD project, started in memory of a longtime volunteer and musician within the Surfers Healing community.
Recognition
- Featured in the Oprah Winfrey Network docu-series The Swell Life, following the Paskowitz family.
- Covered by CBS’ Eye to Eye with Sandra Hughes.
- Subject of an upcoming documentary by Colby Kotzen and Brandon Bloom focused on the father-son relationship at the organization’s roots.
How to Get Involved
- Volunteer at a local camp (beach setup, registration, gear, family support)
- Donate — funds cover equipment, insurance, and travel for the surf crew
- Attend a benefit event, several of which have featured live music from supporting artists
Connect with Surfers Healing: Website | Instragram | Facebook
Contact: info@surfershealing.org / 1-877-966-SURF
Learn more at surfershealing.org
