GIVING BACK 2025: Tidy Seas
The SBSGOAF Committee is passionate about the ocean environment. It provides us so much, from the air we breathe to climate regulation, transportation, food, medicine, recreation and more. But we are not alone, as we share this wonderful ocean environment with many living creatures, making us a part of this diverse ocean community. So, it only makes sense that we give back to a local non-profit who’s mission is dedicated to protecting our coastlines, educating the public, and taking real action to clean up our waters. This year we have chosen Tidy Seas as our 2025 Giving Back recipient.
Tidy Seas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2024 in Santa Barbara, California by Ryan Wong, a local ocean lover dedicated to protecting the coastal places he grew up enjoying. Ryan started Tidy Seas with the goal of removing trash and marine debris from beaches, harbors, and remote shorelines — creating a cleaner, healthier environment for future generations.
Impact: Although Ryan works a full-time job outside of the nonprofit, he devotes every spare moment to leading cleanups, building community partnerships, and growing a grassroots movement focused on action and education. Since launching, Tidy Seas has already removed over 60,000 pounds of trash from the environment — a number that continues to grow thanks to volunteers, local businesses, and supporters.
Education is a key part of the mission. Ryan believes that inspiring the next generation is essential to lasting change, and Tidy Seas regularly engages youth through school visits, outreach, and hands-on cleanups that make learning about conservation fun and impactful.
Local: Tidy Seas is a true grassroots effort powered by family, friends, and the community. Ryan’s parents, Rosie and Rick Wong, volunteer at every cleanup, and his sisters help behind the scenes. Micaela Oleson is the other half of Tidy Seas — helping organize events, coordinate logistics, and attends nearly every cleanup. The nonprofit’s website was built by Jonathan Stowe, a close friend of Ryan’s since high school, and Nate Cannon captures the story of Tidy Seas through powerful photos and video.
Heart: Tidy Seas is more than just a cleanup crew — it’s a local movement built by passionate people who care deeply about the ocean, the community, and the future. Ryan’s long-term goal is to make Tidy Seas his full-time mission and continue scaling its impact throughout California’s coastlines and beyond.
For more information see the links below:
Impact - News - Events - Education
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