9th Annual Run The Hook! The Mother’s Day Run for Mother Ocean - May 12!

Family walks together to celebrate Mother's Day at Run The Hook

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a dash along the coast at the 9th Annual Run The Hook! It’s not just a race; it’s a call to action for our beloved Mother Ocean, uniting participants in a scenic 5k/10k run at Sandy Hook, NJ. Join the COA crew and fellow runners to support our mission to protect our local waterways, all while enjoying the scenic views of the Sandy Hook Bay. Every runner will be awarded a commemorative t-shirt and a finisher’s glass.

Secure your spot now at $40 for the 5k and $50 for the 10k by registering at www.RunTheHookNJ.com or use the QR Code below. Let’s make waves together for a cleaner debris-free sea!

Celebrate your achievement and join fellow runners and supporters at the post-race gathering at Mule Barn Tavern. RSVP is required and subject to venue capacity limits. Special thanks to COA’s Board of Trustees Secretary and Beacon Events owner, Joey Garofalo for his unwavering support and dedication to Clean Ocean Action by hosting this event! It is a fun opportunity to engage with other community members who have a passion for protecting our waterways. Hope to SEA you there!

Interested in volunteering to help out for the Run The Hook event? Contact COA's Resource & Development Director, Jocelyn Graham at Development@CleanOceanAction.org. 

Location: Field 102, S Bragg Dr. & Kilpatrick Rd., Sandy Hook, NJ

Time: Sunday, May 12, 2024, 10:00AM

BIB Pick-up: Road Runner Sports, Shrewsbury, NJ on Saturday, May 11, 2024 (11AM – 2 PM) or Race Day at Field 102 starting at 8:30AM. Advanced pick-up is highly encouraged!

UPDATE: As of April 17, 2024, Run The Hook is sold out! The waitlist is now available to join at www.RunTheHook.com. 

Connect with COA on NJ's Southern Coast

Thank you to those who came to our Tuckerton Meet and Greet on March 26! If you’re looking for more ways to connect with COA, tag along with us this spring to sites all over South Jersey. We’ll be tabling at festivals, speaking at celebrations of the “Get Past Plastics” law, and leading an offshore wind information session. Check out our website and social media for more information on these events and more! See the map to find COA this spring! Interested in volunteering with us at these events or having a COA table at an event near you? Please reach out to South Jersey Coordinator, Toni Groet at TGroet@CleanOceanAction.org.

2024 Sustainability in Motion Conference Success

Kira (center) with Love Blue Inc. CEO, AJ Caruso (right),
and Executive Board Member, Ryan Lombardi (left)

In March, COA’s Debris Free Sea Coordinator, Kira Cruz, attended the 2nd Annual Sustainability in Motion Conference in Atlantic City. This successful event was hosted by NJ Clean Communities (NJCC) and the Association of New Jersey Recyclers. At the conference, Kira was able to connect and build partnership opportunities with like-minded environmental organizations, such as the nonprofit Love Blue Inc. whose mission and passion is to conserve the ocean through community outreach and organized beach cleanups. The conference brings together eclectic groups and organizations with similar missions to enhance their communities, as well as open many doors to further collaborations. Many waves of thanks to NJCC for the warm invite to be an exhibitor at the event this year!

World Water Day Kicks Off Corporate Beach Sweeps Registration!

Visual Lease team participating in Corporate Beach Sweeps 2023 at Sandy Hook

World Water Day (WWD) welcomed the approaching COA Corporate Beach Sweeps season by opening applications for summer 2024! This year’s WWD theme, ‘Water for Peace,’ emphasizes the crucial role water plays in the stability and prosperity of the world and seems most fitting to the concept of Corporate Beach Sweeps. The Corporate Sweeps allow businesses to come together, enhancing their team-building skills, while also doing work that gives back to the ocean and the community by removing harmful debris.

Every piece removed counts! Are you ready to make a difference with your company this summer? Sign up today! For more information, please visit CleanOceanAction.org or reach out to the program coordinator, Kira Cruz, at BeachSweeps@CleanOceanAction.org.