Many nonprofits are experiencing choppy seas under the current government, but it’s smooth sailing for FLoatarama. The LGBTQ seafaring organization just gave away $150,000 to a dozen local causes.
“When we started to build out this organization, all of a sudden people started to come together,” FLoatarama founder Scott Schramm told OutSFL. “The founders, the sponsors, all had love for the community. That’s when we started to realize the impact we could make.”
The group had its Youth Fund Awards Party at Hunters, which was filled with supporters and beneficiaries. The groups chosen to receive money work with youth in one way or another, such as homelessness, mental health crises, bullying and more.
One of those groups is The Humanity Project, which supports equality, self-worth and respect for all people.
“Our programs help to stop bullying in schools,” Founder Bob Knotts said. “One of our programs is Humanity Club, which goes into a school, identifies student leaders, and teaches self-worth, equality, [and] diversity. Then they help us craft a program for the entire school.”
Hosting the night was local TV icon Alex Miranda, who also hosted the boat ride this past summer. He says FLoatarama sticks out as an important cause.
“I love to support our community, and this organization raises so much money, and more importantly it donates so much to our queer community. To me, that’s so much fun. It gets all the things that we love. It’s the great music. It’s the great people, it’s the water. And it’s doing good for the youth.”
FLoatarama 2025. Photo by Carina Mask.
