Describes this years Fun in the Sun for Everyone event!

What an absolutely incredible day Pockets Full of Sunshine had Friday, June 3rd at their annual Fun in the Sun for Everyone surf and beach event! The turnout was wonderful despite the unexpected traffic and delays. The weather was beautiful, the water was perfect and there were smiles and sunshine everywhere you looked.

Over the years this community event has grown from 25 participants to well over 200. The activities have grown right along with the crowd with unique new experiences added each year. This year Miss Bluffton, Miss Hilton Head and their princesses joined in on the fun along with Shoogie the SERG Sea Turtle and a real life mermaid.

The participants, individuals of all ages with special needs, their families and friends, always have a blast and enjoy returning to such a cheerful and welcoming day by the seaside. There are exciting firsts every year as well. An adult participant who had never been in the water beyond his ankles was encouraged by volunteers and his new friends to catch his first wave. He rode in with a smile on his face from ear to ear and thumbs up in the air.

Another sunny story from the day was a brand new volunteer who was encouraged to attend by his neighbor and enjoyed the day and its participants so thoroughly that he plans to become a regular part of the sunshine family.

“Fun in the Sun for EVERYONE” was built off a 2015 Special Needs Surf Day, created by James Bartholomew, who wanted to provide a fun day of surfing for his sister Sally and her then classmates who had special needs. Through the years, James has continued to help organize the event, which has grown each year.

Thank you to the incredible volunteers. So many of whom are veterans of this event and return year after year. And a special thanks to our sponsors who make the event possible; Annie Scott Events – Bartholomew Family – Beachside Getaway – Billy Wood Appliance – Color Works – Crescent Moon Pictures – Donald Brace Foundation – EAC Heating & Air – E-Z-GO of Hilton Head – Eyeland Optique – Feiner Electric – Finger, Melnick, Brooks & LaBruce, PA – Full Spectrum Studio – Handy Family – Kendra Natter – Know No Boundaries – Law Office of Scott M. Wild, LLC – Lighthouse Realty – Low Country Shelving and Glass – LowCountry Therapy – Lundstrom Family – Lynes on Design – Northern Industrial Manufacturing – Palmetto Electric Cooperative – Reno Pro – Roberts Construction Company, Inc – Saltwater Woody – Tom Herrmann Family – Truist – Tree Wiseman – Amiri Farris – Coastal Marketing – Crush Entertainment – Forest Beach Surf and Cycle – Frame USA – JB Boards – Jim Van Grouw – Leftover Ladies – Lowcountry Living & Real Estate – Marriott Surfwatch Resort – Memory Lane Portraits – ‘Mr. Dave’ Carroll – Outside Brands – SERG Group – Shore Beach Services

About Us: Since 2014, Pockets Full of Sunshine has been working to make the Lowcountry a “sunnier place” by providing social and vocational opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities. PFS programs enhance the lives of exceptional adults (“Rays”), by increasing exposure and interactions within our community; promoting independence, growth, a sense of belonging, and personal pride. Founded by Dayna Dehlinger and Laurin Rivers, partnering with Carol & RJ Bartholomew, PFS has a goal of bridging the gap between general population and individuals with special needs.

For more information on our non-profit

local non-profit organization

WWW.POCKETSFULLOFSUN.ORG