What is Love Blue Inc.?

Love Blue Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting oceans and waterways through cleanups, education, leadership development, and community-driven environmental action.

When was Love Blue Inc. founded?

Love Blue Inc. was founded in 2019 in Wildwood, New Jersey, following grassroots beach cleanups that grew into a national movement.

Where does Love Blue Inc. operate?

We operate nationally through local community and college-based chapters, with a strong presence in coastal and waterfront communities.

Is Love Blue Inc. a registered nonprofit?

Yes. Love Blue Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing with the IRS.

OUR FOUNDING & HISTORY

THE CALLING...

Before founding Love Blue Inc., AJ Caruso spent years as an ocean lifeguard and lifelong surfer in Wildwood, New Jersey, developing a deep connection to the ocean and its wildlife.

Through his faith, that connection became a conviction that humanity is called to be stewards of God’s creation.

In 2019, during prayer on the beach, AJ felt called to lead others in protecting the ocean, transforming personal experience and belief into the mission that became Love Blue Inc.

"Leaders aren’t born. They’re called, tested, and developed over time. When the world needs real leaders, be one."

— CEO & Founder AJ Caruso

TIMELINE

LIFEGUARDS & SURFERS UNITE

On July 19th, 2019 , a small group of ocean lifeguards & community surfers who shared a similar idea of oceanic conservation, decided to establish the vision of Love Blue Inc.

THE RECOGNITION

Later that Summer, Fox 29 News approached us to be featured as one of their local stories to help spread awareness about our mission.

OFFICIAL MOVEMENT BY SUMMER'S END

We started our weekly beach cleanups with 3 volunteers & our last of the summer with around 100 people. By the summer's end, we officially had ourselves a movement. We then began the process of officially registering Love Blue Inc. as a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization.

MORE RECOGNITION

After Summer, the Borough of Wildwood Crest, approached Chief Bud Johnson, AJ's boss, & AJ's family to receive a reward of recognition for our efforts that past summer, while he was at school.

THE START OF COLLEGE CHAPTERS

That September, Myrtle Beach, SC, students from CCU, where Founder AJ Caruso went to school, organized with organizations on campus & in the Myrtle Beach community to host a beach cleanup, which eventually would lead to the establishment of our first college club.

OUR SECOND COLLEGE CHAPTER

Shortly after CCU's successful cleanup launch in Myrtle Beach, lead by Founder AJ Caruso, Founder Sean Lavender started Stockton University Chapter in Atlantic City, NJ.

OFFICIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOROUGH OF WILDWOOD CREST

In the spring of 2020, the Borough of Wildwood Crest began an official partnership with Love Blue Inc., establishing year-round beach cleanups and ongoing community outreach.

COVID-19 CHALLENGES

Shortly after our partnership began, COVID-19 swept across the country, forcing a temporary suspension of cleanups. In the height of the pandemic, we made the decision to push forward.

PARTNERING WITH SUSTAINABLE COMPANIES

As our work grew, we began partnering with sustainable companies, grounded in our belief that personal responsibility comes first. These partnerships provide our community with discounted, sustainable alternatives while directly supporting Love Blue Inc.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

In the fall, we expanded our presence by getting involved in local events, strengthening community outreach and deepening engagement in our mission

BUILDING THE VISION

As Love Blue evolved, so did our mission. We continued building the vision, constantly refining, strengthening, and improving the way we serve our communities and protect our oceans.

LED SUPPORT FOR OCEAN FIRST POLICY IN WILDWOOD CREST

Recognizing a gap in ocean-first policy, Love Blue stepped up to lead local support in Wildwood Crest. While all other New Jersey shore towns had banned cigarette smoking on their beaches, Wildwood Crest had not. In collaboration with the town’s Green Team, we began raising awareness and sharing on-the-ground data from our cleanups.

THE START OF THE CIGARETTE SURFBOARD PROJECT

In early 2021, Love Blue came together with Mellow Grove, a New Jersey–based surf and skate company, to begin developing the first stages of the Cigarette Surfboard project.

OFFICIAL LOVE BLUE MERCH

To help fund our operations and spread awareness, Love Blue began creating official merchandise, turning fashion into a tool for ocean advocacy.

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY CLUB PROGRAM EXPANDS

Rowan University became the latest chapter to join Love Blue, as our college and university clubs continued to grow and gain traction nationwide.

SUSTAINABLE NJ CONFERENCE

At our first Sustainable NJ Conference, Love Blue representatives cold-approached shore town officials, sharing our mission and forging relationships to expand our impact along the coast.

POP UP INTEREST CLEANUP IN LONG BRANCH, NJ

Nick Olson of Love Blue hosted a pop-up interest beach cleanup in Long Branch, NJ, working with Monmouth University students to spark interest in establishing a new official chapter.

LOVE BLUE INC. HITS 10,000 LBS PULLED NATIONWIDE

United for impact, our CCU, Rowan, Stockton, and Wildwood Crest chapters joined forces in Wildwood Crest, pushing Love Blue past 10,000 pounds of trash collected across the country.

LAUNCH OF THE PUBLIC CLEANUP STATION PROGRAM

Love Blue launched the Public Cleanup Station program, providing the community with accessible tools to clean beaches year-round and encouraging everyone to take part in protecting our oceans.

BUILDING OUT THE CIGARETTE SURFBOARD

The project involved cutting an 11-foot surfboard down to 6’6”, embedding thousands of cigarette butts collected from our cleanups into its surface, and coating it with resin before finishing with a custom design, turning pollution into a statement piece.

ATTENDING THE SURF EXPO

At the Surf Expo, Love Blue engaged with industry leaders and mission-aligned companies, building relationships to further support our work in ocean advocacy.

PARTNERING WITH LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Love Blue partnered with Olma High School students for the first time, empowering the next generation to take action for ocean conservation and community cleanups.

LAUNCH OF MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY CHAPTER

Monmouth University became the newest official Love Blue chapter, marking another step in growing our student-led movement for ocean protection.

LAUNCH OF FLORIDA CHAPTERS

Our Florida chapters at Eckerd College and FGCU are empowering students on the Gulf Coast to lead cleanups, spread awareness, and take action for ocean conservation.

STOCKTON U CLUB WINS MLK DAY OF SERVICE AWARD

The Stockton University chapter of Love Blue was honored with the MLK Day of Service Award, recognizing their outstanding commitment to community service and environmental stewardship.

SUSTAINABILITY IN MOTION CONFERENCE YEAR 1

Love Blue attended Sustainability in Motion for the first time, setting up a booth and connecting with leading companies, organizations, and city and town officials across New Jersey.

CIGS INSIDE SURFBOARD COMPLETE & ON TOUR

The Cigarette Surfboard is complete! Members of Love Blue HQ took it on a nationwide tour, bringing it to scheduled chapter cleanups to raise awareness and inspire action.

FGCU CHAPTER LEADS HURRICANE IAN RELIEF EFFORTS WITH LOCAL GROUPS

After Hurricane Ian struck, the newly formed FGCU chapter joined forces with local organizations to provide relief and restore impacted areas, demonstrating the power of student-led action.

LOVE BLUE HITS 28,000 LBS PULLED OFF OUR BEACHES

After an incredible semester of cleanups, the FGCU chapter removed over 15,000 pounds of trash from local beaches, contributing to Love Blue’s nationwide total of more than 28,000 pounds collected.

CLEANUP STATION COLLAB WITH BOY SCOUTS

Love Blue partnered with the Boy Scouts to bring a cleanup station to Wildwood Crest. We provided the blueprint, resources, guidance, and tools, empowering them to create and maintain a station that supports community-driven beach cleanups.

CREATION OF THE OCTAGON CLEANUP STATION

The Octagon Cleanup Station introduced more interior space, dedicated recycle and trash chutes, and a more eye-appealing design. First adopted by Wildwood Crest, it later expanded to the City of Cape May and the Borough of Ship Bottom, turning a simple idea into a community standard.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

We expanded its impact by welcoming Garbo Grabber and Helpsy as community partners, supporting greater access, engagement, and sustainability across our initiatives.

LAUNCH OF THE SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAM

Love Blue Inc. led a local high school through an educational beach cleanup and guided shoreline walkthrough, teaching students about local marine life and the impacts of pollution on coastal ecosystems.

LOVE BLUE CHICAGO LAUNCH

VP Kirstin Quigley & Former CCU Chapter President Ashton Dunningan led the launch of Love Blue Inc.’s first city chapter in Chicago, building relationships with local businesses and corporate partners to establish a strong urban presence and advance the mission beyond coastal communities.

LAUNCH OF LOVE BLUE MAUI

Kirstin Quigley coordinated the launch of the Love Blue Maui Chapter after connecting with local high school students during a visit to the islands. Inspired by the mission, the students took initiative and launched their own chapter, expanding Love Blue’s reach through grassroots youth engagement.

TERRA CYCLE INVITES US TO HELP WITH NETFLIX PROJECT

Love Blue Inc. collaborated with TerraCycle to create Coco the Octopus for the Netflix documentary Our Oceans, narrated by Barack Obama, using recycled materials and visual storytelling to spotlight ocean pollution on a global stage.

LAUNCH OF FLAGLER CHAPTER IN FLORIDA

Love Blue Inc. launched its Flagler College Chapter in St. Augustine, FL, led by Cape May County native and WCBP lifeguard Sammy Andres, bringing local students together to protect the ocean and build community impact.

CHICAGO CHAPTER INTERVIEWED ON CBS CHICAGO NEWS

Love Blue Inc. Chicago was featured on CBS Local News, highlighting the chapter’s beach cleanups, community engagement, and dedication to protecting local waterways.

OPEN WATER PARTNERSHIP

Love Blue Inc. officially partnered with Open Water, providing fresh, sustainable water options at our cleanups, keeping volunteers hydrated while staying true to our mission of protecting the oceans.

BECAME A PARTNER OF 1% FOR THE PLANET

Love Blue Inc. became an official environmental partner of 1% for the Planet, boosting our credibility and opening doors to a broader network of businesses and organizations committed to supporting ocean conservation.

FIRST OFFICIAL GRANT FROM OPEN WATER

Love Blue Inc. was selected for the Open Water Sea Grant, helping elevate our beach cleanups across the country and creating a more memorable, impactful experience for every volunteer involved.