They are called Best Day Foundation of Santa Cruz and they set up wonderful play days for special needs children by the ocean. Max Montgomery started the organization, the following article was written by Anne Kallas of the Ventura County Star:
Kids enjoy beach day despite fast winds
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Photo by Rob Varela
Brandon Ponce of Oxnard bodyboards with the help of volunteer Gedina Bergstrom of Los Angeles during the Best Day Foundation’s Best Day at the Beach event for kids with special needs on Sunday.
Photo by Rob Varela
Justin Tsang of Newbury Park surfs with the help of volunteer Alex Wallace of Ventura during the Best Day Foundation’s event for kids with special needs in Ventura.
Jace Bauer of Somis practices his surfing technique on the sand with the help of volunteer Michael Mariani of Ventura during the Best Day Foundation’s event in Ventura on Sunday.
STORY TOOLS 
High waves and punishing winds forced an early end to a day of surfing and water sports for children with special needs held Sunday at the Ventura Harbor South Jetty by Best Day Foundation of Santa Cruz.
Despite the early finish Sunday, Lisa Cardoza, who is married to Best Day co-founder Brooks Lambert and was one of the organizers of the inaugural Ventura Best Day at the Beach, said the two-day event was a success.
“Sometimes it rains up in Santa Cruz or there are thunderstorms. It happens once in a while,” Cardoza said from the Channel Islands National Park facility, which offered to host the final portion of the event at the last minute after sand-blasting winds made having the awards ceremony and wrap-up taco lunch at the beach impossible.
The Best Day Foundation’s goal is to help children with special needs build confidence and self-esteem through activities such as surfing and bodyboarding.
Chipper “Bro” Bell, who co-chairs the Ventura Best Day chapter with Johnny Johnson, said the idea for the event grew out of the Ride A Wave events that are held for special needs children in Santa Cruz.
“They’re supplying the expertise to get us started,” Bell said. Bell, who is the owner of Surfclass.com, which offers camps and lessons to people who want to learn to surf, said the participating children can have any special need, from Down syndrome to autism to physical limitations. They are able to engage in tandem surfing, kayaking, outrigger canoe riding, bodyboarding and more.
As the winds picked up Sunday, the event first moved from the ocean-facing portion of the beach to the protected portion, before finally moving to the park facility.
Best Day Foundation co-founder Max Montgomery of Santa Cruz emphasized that safety was the first priority for the day.
“The most important thing is safety. We make sure we have adequate safety procedures,” Montgomery said. “Each child gets a life vest, a helmet, a wet suit and they are assigned from one to five individuals in the water.”
Before they got in the water, the children ran through an obstacle course built by California Conservation Corps members. The run was a release for the children, who had been standing in line waiting to be matched with volunteer “buddies” who guide them through the day, said Paula Gould, a spokeswoman for the event.
Stephanie Montano of Oxnard said she was there with her friend Miriam Ruiz because she enjoys working with children who have disabilities.
“We want to give them the best day of their lives, to make them happy,” she said.
Janelle Bauer of Somis waited in line with her 6-year-old son, Jace, who has autism.
“He loves the beach, but he’s never been on a surfboard,” Bauer said, before trying to calm her son as he grew increasingly restless waiting to play in the water.
Ayelef Sason of West Hills was encouraging her son Yarin, who also has autism, as he navigated the obstacle course before the entire group did warm-up exercises under the direction of Captain Kelp and Barnacle Babe, otherwise known as Elizabeth Sprenkel and Maya Springsock, both of Santa Cruz.
“He loves the ocean and he loves the water. We’re hoping to go with the flow and not freeze,” Sason said.
While the Best Day at the Beach on Saturday attracted 42 children and went off without a hitch, the high surf and increasing winds proved difficult to overcome Sunday. According to Diane Soule of Ventura, who was volunteering at the children’s registration desk, only 17 of the more than 40 children who had pre-registered showed up.
“Some people are sitting in their cars, but the kids don’t want to come out,” she said.
Despite the weather, Lisa Cardoza said she had no regrets. “We’re not disappointed. Never. It’s just another adventure.”
PS: I just got off the phone talking with Kate about web design. Then I stumble upon the Best Day Foundation website and I am absolutely blown away. Best Day's website is beautiful! Best Day's Donate now button is beautiful. Congratulations to Best Day Foundation of Santa Cruz for a beautiful site, and a beautiful cause for these beautiful beautiful beautiful children.
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