Indo Jax® Surf School, Wilmington, NC | 910.274.3565

I am almost speechless at the outpouring of support for our charity surf program.  So many folks have come to us to support the various surf camps we do for special needs and at risk youth.

In recent weeks we have been finalizing our India Surf Safari 3 Trip plans and have been focused on a last round of fundraising.  After the success we had at our last fundraiser I really thought it would be difficult to raise any more money.  At the same time I didn’t want the India Trip to wipe us out.  I wanted to have enough funds left over to support our camps here at home.  Additionally we have more camps planned than ever before.  This season stands to blow everything else we’ve ever done completely out of the water.  The India trip is going to be bigger and better than ever serving twice as many girls as the last two years.  Our new Wounded Warrior Surf Therapy Program is going to be unprecedented in its format and consistency.  Our visually impaired surf camp is evolving into a week long full day camp full of extreme sports and activities, surfing is just one of them.  Our surf charity program is developing into one of the most outstanding programs you can find anywhere for special needs children.  We have worked hard for that and  are very  proud of  of what we have accomplished!

None of it is possible without your support.  We have received such incredible sponsorship for our India Surf safari 3 that we just might make our goals.  Without the sponsorship dollars of some incredible businesses and individuals we would not be able to help these orphan girls.  Huge thanks goes out to…

Shipman and Wright Law Firm,  Indo Jax Surf School, Homes of Hope, South End Surf Shop, Hope From Helen, Downtown Darlings, BB&T (Scott and Stringfellow), Carolina PaddleBoard Co, Wilmington Wine, The Melting Pot, USA Luge,  Art Sensation, and our newest sponsor Southern Grown Landscapes.

Thank you, Thank you and Thank you!

We just found out today that one of the three orphanages we were planning on surfing with may not be able to participate.  In turns out the state of this one orphanage had some governmental chaos several months ago and had to shut down many institutions including school, and to make up for missed days the school year has been extended into our trip dates.  Come on, where are your priorities, this is official surf business!  So the trip will still constitute two weeks and 60+ girls, but they will come from two orphanages instead of all three.  This reminds me of when the bus caught on fire last year.  It wouldn’t be India without snags like this!  No matter what this will surely be an adventure and this is just the first of the curve balls.  More boards ship Feb 1st, tickets have been purchased, and the crew assembled, and it’s quite a crew.  Only two months until we leave and there’s so much still to do.

Thanks to some incredible sponsors, this trip is even possible.  Last year’s India video and photos if you haven’t seen it. Nate Daniels did an incredible job capturing the essence of the trip. See below. We are in the middle of prepping for Surf Safari 3. We’ve already hit some snags, understandable when you consider the idea of providing a FREE surf camp for orphan girls half way around the world. We are working through it all and staying focused on the mission. We have had some incredible support from some wonderful companies and individuals. Head Line sponsor Shipman and Wright Law Firm. Other great sponsors are South End Surf Shop, Indo Jax Surf School, Hope From Helen, Carolina Paddleboard Co., Homes of Hope, Downtown Darlings, The Melting Pot, Wilmington Wine, Scott and Stringfellow, Art Sensation, Savi Political Consulting, USA Luge,  my old Pal Alberto Papantoniadis, another friend John Andrews, and my mom Lynn Brunel. Others have promised support as we get nearer to the departure date.  To all who have supported and helped THANK YOU so much for your support, this would not be possible without you!

Indo Jax Surf Charities is accepting corporate sponsorship at this time for our 3rd annual Homes of Hope Surf Safari 3 for orphan girls in India. We already have some incredible sponsors for this event. Shipman and Wright Law Firm, South End Surf Shop, Carolina Paddle Board Co, Indo Jax Surf School, Scott and Stringfellow, The Melting Pot, Downtown Darlings, Wilmington Wine, Savi Political Consulting are already on board and giving their support. If you or your business are interested in sponsoring this incredibly uplifting event, please contact us. Thank you!

As you know we are headed into our 3rd year working with these wonderful orphan girls in India.  This program has been very uplifting for these girls because they rarely get a chance to enjoy just being children, they’ve lost their childhood.  When we visit them we take them on a week long surf camp, feed them, house them and do other excursions with them that they would otherwise never get to do.  If you check out our web-site you will see the fun these girls have.  This event no doubt changes their lives as it does the lives of the instructors who visit.

I really love my job as owner and instructor at Indo Jax Surf School.  I enjoy being at the beach all summer and watching children and adults of all ages fall in love with the ocean as they learn how to surf.  Our surf lessons and surf camps not only teach about the ocean, they teach lessons on life.  It’s neat to see after our 5 years, the campers that have continued to surf and are enjoying this wonderful sport.  This past year we started a surf team for the more advanced surfers.  What a joy it has been to see this group grow in numbers and watch how these children have improved their skill in the water.  I have been a school teacher for a long time, 20 years in fact, and nothing compares to being at the beach and teaching.  Surfing is such a healthy sport with so many elements.  It has the physical fitness, the outdoors and fresh air, the closeness to nature, and the community aspect of sharing waves with others.  I really enjoy getting to teach children and adults alike to surf.  I have really enjoyed getting my daughter Gabby (8) so involved in the ocean and surfing, and I really look forward to getting my son Finn (4) involved too!  I really enjoy teaching children with special needs to surf through our Indo Jax Surf Charities program.  I really look forward to the 2012 season with all of you.  See you at the beach!

First of all, My family and I would like to wish all the friends and families of Indo Jax Surf School and Charities a very merry Christmas!  It has been a wonderful year and your support of our surf school and charity surf programs means a lot to us.  We look forward to surfing with you again this summer.  My family and I would also like to thank all of those people who purchased Christmas gift certificates for our 2012 surfing and kiteboarding programs.  I know you will be stoked with your purchase as our programs just keep getting better and better!

I am in California right now, spending time with family and friends.  In fact, a couple days ago I got a chance to ski with one of my best friends from college, and today got to surf with another old pal here in So Cal.  It was nice to catch up and revisit great friendships! I hope that you all are getting to do the same. Enjoy!

Once I return to NC, it will already be time to start gearing up for a fantastic and unparalleled surf camp season filled with great waves, wonderful friendships and excellent times together.

2011 was no doubt a fantastic year, here’s to an even better 2012!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year  to all!

Jack, Aileen, Gabby and Finn

Indo Jax Surf Charities is now accepting corporate sponsorship for our 2012 3rd annual Surf Camp for the orphan girls of Homes of Hope in India.  To date we have 4 corporate sponsors of this huge event for us,  South End Surf Shop, Indo Jax Surf School, Holiday Inn Express and Hope From Helen.  Special thanks go out to Tony Butler of Hope From Helen for offering to give us a helping hand on this trip!

The people who have reached out to help us, either by sponsoring a bowler at our Pennies 4 Pins Fundraiser, or by sponsoring an instructor going to India, are very special.  It is people and companies like the above mentioned that make these types of outreach surf programs possible. If you or your company would like to sponsor one of our instructors going to India please contact me at (910) 274-3565 or e-mail me at jack@indojaxsurfschool.com

We look forward to working with all of our sponsors, current and new, in the coming 2012 season.  We have so many incredible Outreach Surf Camps scheduled, it going to be one incredible season!

Thanks!

Jack

Christmas is coming and Indo Jax Gift Certificates are still available at 10% off .  We have had several people buy gift certificates for our Summer Surf Camps, and those people have saved anywhere from $50-$100!  So e-mail or call us to order your gift certificate today!

Indo Jax Surf School will be offering several new programs next year, making 2012 our best season ever!  In addition to our Surfing and Kiteboarding programs, we will be adding Stand Up Paddling (SUP).  We are also in the process of developing a Wakeboard Program that if all goes well, will be introduced this summer as well. We will be opening a couple of new locations, such as Topsail Island (Surf City), where we will be offering week long surf camps!

So get your gift certificates today and save money on Indo Jax Surf School’s incredible 2012 surfing, kiteboarding and stand up paddling programs!

We at Indo Jax Surf School and Charities are gearing up for our 3rd annual Surf Camp for the Homes of Hope Orphanages in India.  We are packing and getting ready to ship a few more used boards to supplement our quiver of boards there, and searching for airline tickets.  This year we are putting on two separate surf camps, in two different parts of the country, for two different orphanages.  We are increasing the number of instructors and improving our program for these very needy girls.  We are really looking forward to this trip and think it will be an unbelievable experience for all those involved.  Keith Jensen, and John Pike  from Surfers Healing are planning to join Anthony Shimkonis, Dan Williams, Jeff Murtha and myself  for a surf trip of a lifetime!  In addition, Matt Born from the Star News is coming to cover the trip and two professors from UNCW are coming to study the outcomes.  The 2012 India Safari will no doubt be an incredible adventure!  stay tuned for more updates.

Jack

We at Indo Jax Surf School would like to wish all of our Indo Jax friends and family a Happy Thanksgiving!  We appreciate your support in both our surf school and our charity work, and it really means a lot to us.  We realize that without you, we would not be able to provide our high quality surf camps and outreach surf programs.  Thank you!

2011 was a phenomenal year to say the least, and Aileen, myself and Indo Jax have so much to be thankful for…

Aileen and I  celebrated 10 years of a wonderful marriage!

Our kids are happy and healthy, and doing well in school.  Gabby hit her first home run, in her first at bat, in her first year of softball!  Gabby surfed so well this summer, especially at the East Coast Wahines!

Finn rode his first waves this summer, he wasn’t all that thrilled about it, but he did it!

After nearly 20 years of teaching I was honored with the Lewis Award for Teaching Excellence and Community Service.  It was a great honor!

Aileen celebrated 12 years of practicing law!

Although Indo Jax endured a very dishonest and detestable ordeal, we came out of it better and stronger than ever.  We kept our faith, kept on the high road, and kept a positive focus on our goals and got through with dignity, class and success.  We are so thankful for those who believed, and believed in, us!

Indo Jax Surf Charities put on the most incredible outreach season ever imaginable with more children being served, improved surf camps, and tons of great times.  We are so grateful for our incredible instructor staff and volunteer group this year.  You all were simply the BEST!

Our Pennies4Pins Fundraiser was unbelievable, with nearly $40,000 raised and pledges still coming in!  We are so thankful for all the bowlers, fundraisers and folks who pledged $.  You made this event the best in our history!  We are in good shape for 2012 because of all of the effort you all put out.  Thanks!

All in all it was an incredible year.  We wish you all a Happy Holiday Season and look forward to serving you all in 2012!

Jack and Aileen