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This month marked an exciting new chapter for Love Blue Inc. as we officially launched a program designed for coastal schools located in the communities where we operate. Our goal? To empower young students with the tools, knowledge, and inspiration to protect their local beaches and become environmental stewards.


We were thrilled to kick things off with Avalon Elementary School in Avalon, New Jersey. Love Blue CEO & Founder AJ Caruso was invited to be a guest speaker at the school’s Student Council Meeting, where he shared the origin story of Love Blue, our mission, how we’ve evolved since our founding, and the impact we’re making across the country. Through an engaging and interactive presentation, AJ highlighted ways students could get involved and join the movement to protect our oceans. The response from the students was overwhelmingly positive, they were energized, informed, and ready to make a difference.


After the presentation, the incredible staff at Avalon Elementary coordinated with the City of Avalon and Avalon Beach Patrol, who welcomed the effort with open arms. Later that day, students met on the beach, where Love Blue set up a tent featuring our signature gear. AJ kicked things off with a motivational speech about why cleaning the beaches matters, not just for the environment, but for the health of the community and future generations. He explained the ripple effect that one cleanup can create, inspiring others to take action and raising awareness about ocean pollution.


Armed with gloves, bags, and a mission, the first group of students took to the beach and collected an impressive 30 pounds of trash, mostly small plastics, debris, bottles, and cans. These were items that could have easily ended up in the ocean, posing a serious threat to marine life.


During the cleanup, AJ introduced the group to the “Cigs Inside” Surfboard, a powerful visual piece created by the founders of Love Blue and our friends at Mellow Grove. The surfboard is embedded with cigarette butts collected from beaches all along the East Coast, from New Jersey to Florida. Students were fascinated by the board, and some of Avalon’s young surfers were especially drawn to it, asking questions and learning more about the impact of cigarette pollution.


Shortly after, a second group of students arrived, and the process repeated with the same enthusiasm and attention to detail. This group gathered another 20 pounds of trash, bringing the total for the day to 50 pounds removed from Avalon’s beaches.

Avalon is widely known for its clean, beautiful coastline, which made this effort even more meaningful. The students were incredibly focused on picking up the small but significant pieces, those that often go unnoticed but can cause the most harm if swept into the ocean by wind or tide.


Love Blue Inc. is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Avalon Elementary School, its passionate staff and students, and the city of Avalon. This pilot event is just the beginning—we’re looking forward to bringing this program to more coastal schools in the near future.


Thank you, Avalon Elementary, for making waves of change. Together, we’re building a cleaner, bluer future.




 
 
 

As the spring semester wraps up, we're proud to share an exciting season of accomplishments from our Love Blue Inc. college and university chapters across the country. This spring wasn’t just busy, it was historic!


We officially surpassed 40,000 pounds of trash removed from our nation’s beaches through Love Blue-led cleanups. To be exact, we’re currently sitting at 40,350 lbs, all collected by passionate volunteers united by our mission to protect our waterways.


FGCU Chapter Crushes Records (Again)

Florida Gulf Coast University continues to lead by example. Following their record-setting spring in 2022 post-Hurricane Ian, FGCU’s Love Blue Chapter once again broke records—this time removing 2,138 lbs of trash in a single semester. This chapter continues to shine thanks to not just student involvement, but a truly engaged coastal community that shows up, supports, and helps carry out our mission. When you see Love Blue in action at FGCU, you're seeing community and conservation come together in full force.


Flagler Chapter Kicks Off Strong

After an exciting launch earlier this year (highlighted in our last blog), the Flagler Chapter has already shown what’s possible when students take initiative and lead with purpose. Their momentum this semester has laid the foundation for long-term impact on Florida’s northeast coast.


Hydrated & Ready Thanks to Open Water

This spring also marked the launch of our partnership with Open Water, who supplied sustainable canned water to every volunteer at our cleanups nationwide. Hydration is essential for our teams, and Open Water’s mission to eliminate plastic waste aligns perfectly with ours. This partnership has truly elevated our operational capacity and volunteer experience.


Wildwoods Chapter Makes Waves with New Record & New Territory

Our Wildwoods Chapter continues to push boundaries—literally. This April, they broke a record by pulling 315 lbs in a single cleanup alongside the U.S. Coast Guard from Atlantic City. The cleanup took place in a new territory: Heather Road in Wildwood Crest, home to a beloved local fishing pier.


Following this success, we’ve expanded our Wildwood Crest cleanup schedule for summer 2025, launching dual shifts every Saturday starting June 14:

  • AM Shift: 8 AM – 10 AM (Starting at Heather Road)

  • PM Shift: 6 PM – 8 PM (Traditional slot)

The Wildwoods Chapter will be active all summer long. You can find the full schedule on our website.


Wrapping Up & Looking Ahead

During the month of May, we're hosting debriefs with each of our college and university chapters to:

  • Reflect on all their amazing work this past academic year

  • Congratulate our graduating seniors and talk about how we’ll keep them involved even after they leave campus

  • Ensure chapter leaders are prepped and supported for the fall so they can enjoy a well-deserved summer break

Our community chapters—especially The Wildwoods and Chicago—will keep the momentum going all summer. Be sure to follow our Chicago Chapter on Instagram @lovebluechicago for updates, cleanup dates, and ways to get involved.


Join the Movement This Summer

Whether you're a student, a family, a vacationer, or a lifelong local, we invite you to be a part of our mission this summer. You can:

  • Earn community service or service learning hours

  • Make a real impact in your hometown or travel destination

  • Help preserve the places we all love

And always remember to LOVE BLUE: Pick up trash when you see it—whether it’s at the beach, a lake, or any waterway.


We’re proud of every chapter, volunteer, and supporter who made this spring one to remember. Here's to a cleaner, more connected summer!



 
 
 

This past year marked an exciting new chapter for Love Blue, Inc. as we expanded our presence to the shores of St. Augustine, Florida, thanks to the incredible leadership of Flagler College student Sammy Andres. After spending her summer lifeguarding with the Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol and working closely with our founder & CEO AJ Caruso, Sammy returned to campus with a mission: bring Love Blue to Flagler College.


That shared summer of lifeguarding was more than just a job, it was where Sammy and AJ’s mutual passion for the ocean and commitment to protecting it truly came to life. Inspired by the mission and community of Love Blue, Sammy took the initiative to expand our impact and start something new.


The fall semester focused on building a strong foundation: training a new team on how to properly conduct our signature beach cleanups, supplying equipment, and offering weekly support to help mold the chapter into a standout among our nationwide network.


When the spring semester arrived, the Flagler College Love Blue Chapter was officially approved as a student organization, and they hit the ground running. With a few on-campus interest meetings, the team quickly attracted dedicated volunteers and spread the word about their mission. Their first cleanup, held on February 13th, was a strong start, removing 55 lbs of trash with a tight-knit crew of passionate students.


In just a short spring semester, and with fewer than 10 total cleanups, the Flagler team removed an impressive 270 lbs of trash from local beaches and mangroves. They partnered with other student groups and found creative ways to grow their impact, showing everyone what a small but determined team can accomplish with heart, structure, and support.


Their efforts didn’t go unnoticed. At the Student Leadership Banquet on April 28th, the Flagler Love Blue Chapter was awarded “Outstanding New Organization of the Year”, a well-deserved recognition of their hard work, community engagement, and environmental dedication.


As the semester closes, Sammy returns home to the Wildwoods where she’ll be joining our summer cleanup efforts. She’s built a passionate team of like-minded leaders who are poised to take the Flagler chapter even further in their second semester. We’re incredibly proud of what this chapter has accomplished in such a short time and are beyond excited to watch them grow.


With new energy, new partnerships, and a strong presence in St. Augustine, the future is bright for Love Blue at Flagler College. Welcome to the family, & keep making waves. 🌊💙




 
 
 

Our Collection

Love Blue Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that seeks to conserve our oceans through organized beach cleanups and community outreach efforts.

We are headquartered in Wildwood Crest, NJ with multiple community and college chapters across the United States of America.

Contact Us Today!

info@loveblueinc.org

Subscribe to Our Monthly Newsletter to keep up to date with all of Love Blue's operations around the country!

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