Bending Branches & Paddle4Tomorrow: Looking to the Future
8-minute read
The paddling world is one that’s interconnected with manufacturers like us, retailers, outfitters and guides, and millions of participants worldwide. It’s also a world that aligns perfectly with many non-profit organizations.
Paddle4Tomorrow (P4T) is one of those non-profits—one that we’ve partnered with since 2010. Now in 2025, our partnership is only getting stronger as both organizations strive to help form a future where paddling is embedded in the lives of as many people as we can reach.
P4T is an all-volunteer organization based in Atlanta, Georgia. For the past seven years, their programming has focused on serving children ages 8-12 at no cost, from all walks of life, through paddling.
We love that Paddle4Tomorrow has the future built right into their identity! And we’re proud to partner with these good folks as they serve kids in their area in so many ways through paddling.
So you can get some insight into how our partnership works and what we see looking forward together, we sent out some questions to a few key people:
- Tony Narcisse is co-founder of Paddle4Tomorrow, a 501(c)(3) organization.
- Michael Schwartz is a P4T volunteer who serves their participants in various capacities and assists in P4T’s marketing efforts.
- Kate Wright is Bending Branches’ Director of Marketing.
Below are the answers we received from Tony, Michael and Kate. We hope it helps you see how 1. paddling can be so much more than just a fun thing to do, and 2. how for-profit and non-profit organizations can partner together to impact people’s lives for the better:
BENDING BRANCHES: What is it about paddling that draws kids to P4T’s programs and what benefits do they receive?
TONY: For many children who participate, this is the first time they’ve ever had the opportunity to paddle and interact up-close with nature. Some children are hesitant at first to be paddling a boat on their own. But a little encouragement quickly leads to a remarkable shift.
A child can go from “I'm afraid” or “I can't” to “Oh my gosh, yeah, I can!”
And that's a transformative experience for a young person. That's not being told you can do whatever you want. That's actually showing, demonstrating to yourself, “Oh my, I am very capable.”
And so we think that's really foundational to almost everything else we do—to help a young person feel good about who they are. This newfound confidence on the water often spills over into other areas of their lives, empowering them beyond the paddling experience itself.
MICHAEL: In my role as a water marshal, I see the transformation Tony refers to. The beauty of the paddling experience is that it’s kind of a training ground. The kids can pick up the basic skills pretty quickly.
We have several kids who attend multiple events and I can always spot them because their paddling technique is smooth and confident. I also feel like they’re “hooked” on the experience, which means they’ll probably want to keep paddling beyond Paddle4Tomorrow.
Another good thing about paddling experiences is that they give the kids a quick way to interact while having fun, whether it’s racing or splashing each other. To the point they don’t want to come back on land.
BRANCHES: What do you (P4T) look for in a business partner and what do we (Branches) look for in a non-profit partner?
TONY: When seeking business partners, we prioritize alignment in goals, vision and mission.
With Bending Branches, the alignment is clear. We share the fundamental belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to connect with nature. Our collaboration with Bending Branches allows us to expand access to paddling for communities that might not otherwise have it. So together we can make a tangible difference.
MICHAEL: What’s remarkable to me about Bending Branches is how committed and engaged they are with us. There’s never a feeling that they’re being put upon in the relationship. It’s totally the opposite. The leadership and staff consistently want to know what more they can do to help Paddle4Tomorrow be successful.
Besides that, they also are all-in as far as sharing our partnership story with others in the paddlesports community, because they’ve seen the impact it has in drawing more people into the world of water sports. Spotlighting our relationship in this blog is a perfect example.
KATE: We look for organizations that share our values and genuinely care about creating access to the outdoors. It's important that the work they do isn't just a one-time thing but part of a bigger effort to build community, confidence and connection through paddling.
Paddle4Tomorrow is a perfect example of that. They're thoughtful in how they run their programs, and they understand how meaningful it can be for kids to get out on the water. It's clear that their mission isn't just about paddling. It's about belonging.
BRANCHES: What are the benefits each organization receives in a partnership like this?
TONY: Our partnership with Bending Branches offers us benefits that extend far beyond financial assistance or products. Their industry credibility and respect instantly elevate our own standing. And using their top-tier equipment instills a sense of confidence within our organization, knowing we're operating with the best in the business.
MICHAEL: The Bending Branches culture of community involvement is sincere and based on action. For instance, they encourage their brand ambassadors and pro staff to volunteer at Paddle4Tomorrow events.
That not only adds professional paddlers to our group of volunteers, but it also helps cement our relationship when they can see up close the payoff of Bending Branches partnering with Paddle4Tomorrow.
KATE: Partnerships like this keep us grounded. It reminds us we're not just making gear, we're making it possible for people to have powerful experiences outside.
Working with P4T gives us a chance to contribute to something that matters, and to support the future of paddlesports in a real way. It also deepens our connection with the paddling community, which helps us stay aligned with what's important, both as a company and as individuals.
BRANCHES: How do you see our partnership evolving as we look forward into the future?
TONY: Our partnership with Bending Branches is a dynamic collaboration. We continuously communicate about best practices, messaging, and how to best deliver memorable experiences for the children we serve.
These aren't static conversations. We consistently explore how our joint efforts can expand to meet the growing needs of both current and future members of the paddling community.
In a way, we feel our relationship is a template that can be duplicated in other parts of the country to do exactly that.
MICHAEL: I’m excited about what the future holds. We keep finding new ways to tell our story to others in the paddlesports community. We don’t expect it to be a one-size-fits-all approach, but some of the Paddle4Tomorrow founding principles can be applied anywhere.
- Who wouldn’t want to attract people of different ages, backgrounds and experiences?
- Who wouldn’t want to encourage leadership skills?
- Who wouldn’t want to promote self-confidence?
Partnerships like ours can do all that and more.
KATE: In the beginning, our role was mostly just getting gear into their hands. That felt like the most useful way we could help.
Now we're thinking more about how to support their visibility too, helping spread the word about their mission and getting more people involved. That might mean telling more stories, creating new ways to connect people to their work, or helping replicate their model in other communities.
There's a lot of potential to keep growing together.
BRANCHES: What advice do you have for other non-profits and businesses to partner together like this?
TONY: My key advice is to approach it from a perspective of mutual benefit. Instead of simply asking for support, consider if the request genuinely serves the best interests of both parties.
Our partnership with Bending Branches thrives because we've aligned on common goals and developed strategies that make sense for both organizations. It's an investment in each other that ultimately benefits us both, as well as the broader paddling community.
MICHAEL: I suggest giving potential partners lots of ways to engage with your organization. Beyond donations or providing resources, emphasize that you provide a great volunteer opportunity for a company’s employees. Think about organizing events specifically for a potential or current partner. Showcase what you do and the value you deliver to your community.
And really important is taking your story public. Use every communication tool you can to reach your target audience.
KATE: Look for people who care about the same things you do. Then ask what they really need, not just what you think you can offer.
A lot of times, it's not just product, it's encouragement, visibility or someone in their corner. Be consistent and easy to work with. And remember that you don't have to solve everything. Even a small act of support can mean a lot, especially for volunteer-run nonprofits.
How the Paddlesports Trade Coalition Can Help
Both the P4T team and Kate mentioned the role of the Paddlesports Trade Coalition (PTC) as instrumental in helping connect organizations across the paddlesports world in this way.
“PTC has the reach and relationships to bring people together who might not otherwise connect,” said Kate. “If they can help tell more stories like this one and show what these partnerships can look like, it could inspire a lot more collaboration.
“There’s a real opportunity to make the paddlesports world feel more connected and community-minded, and PTC is in a great spot to help lead that.”
To learn more about Paddle4Tomorrow, visit their website: www.paddle4tomorrow.org.
All photos courtesy of Paddle4Tomorrow.
What paddling questions can our friendly Customer Service team help you with? Contact us at 715-755-3405 or bbinfo@bendingbranches.com, or choose our online chat option.
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