Catching up with Andrew Manzi of Warrior Surf Foundation
By Lorne Chambers | Editor
The Fourth of July is upon us and Folly Beach will surely be bursting at the seams with visitors and beach-goers. It’s easy to get caught up in the all the traditional summer fun associated with it — cookouts, fireworks, and the beach. But at its heart, the Fourth of July is a celebration of our country’s Independence, not just from the British in 1776, but it’s also an ongoing recognition of the freedoms we cherish in this country. The brave men and women who have served in our armed forces are to thank for those freedoms. One of those veterans is Folly Beach’s Andrew Manzi, who continues to serve in a different way.
Sergeant Manzi, now 33, served with the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corp. Most of that time was spent in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq, where he saw intense firefights. He lost friends. Like many who served in combat, Manzi returned from battle forever changed. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and had to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.
He saw therapists and sought professional help. But the real healing began when he bought a surf board at a yard sale. Manzi began surfing and found it therapeutic. He moved to Folly Beach and founded the Warrior Surf Foundation, a non-profit that provides free surf camps for veterans and their families.
Manzi found that having therapy on the beach makes it more approachable for veterans. They don’t have to participate until ready, but do work with the organization’s therapist, Erin Jones.
Last year, Manzi was honored as a CNN Hero for his work with Warrior Surf and he and the organization was put on a national stage. Now the organization is doing more to help veterans and others in the community, like the recent partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters, where Manzi and his team help disadvantaged youth in Charleston learn to surf.
We had a chance to chat with Manzi about his service, how the organization has grown, and what the Fourth of July means to him. Here is part of that conversation:
FOLLY CURRENT: July is a time when people head to the beach, But it’s also the month we celebrate our nation’s independence. As a veteran, particularly one who now works with other vets, does this day hold special meaning for you?
ANDREW MANZI: It’s a wonderful day, of course, but I would say with my understanding of the sacrifice it takes to achieve freedom, that every day is a good day and one day is not more important than the present one.
FC: When you created Warrior Surf Foundation did you think it would become what it is now? And if not, how has it differed from your original vision?
AM: When we created Warrior Surf, the main goal was to provide an opportunity and an atmosphere for veterans to heal and to grow through surfing. That will never change. We continue to push the envelope on whats possible through our mission. The program itself on the outside is completely different but the heart of it is still there.
We have added new elements to our six-week peer-based clinics. Our Wellness program has been enhanced tremendously with the hard work of Erin Jones (WSF’s psychotherapist) and her team. Our partnerships with other Veteran NGO’s have provided an opportunity for us to assist other missions through surfing and open up other opportunities for our participants whether it be employment, housing, or educational assistance. Our original vision is still the same but we have found different ways to increase our impact.
FC: In what ways did the CNN exposure help the organization?
AM: The monetary value of the campaign helped us invest in the technologies and systems needed for the communication, organization, and research. We have had tons of people volunteer their time and services but we realized that we needed to invest in the infrastructure, tools, and technology to establish Warrior Surf as a sustainable, long-lasting organization.
The exposure gave us the opportunity to acquire quality surf, safety, and operational equipment, which we have already seen the benefits of. With money and media attention, came opportunities for education and professional training. For example on July 4th, I am heading to J-Bay South Africa for the International Surf Therapy Summitt. Our work has been recognized by the international surf therapy community. The list goes on.
FC: Now that WSF is on the map, locally and nationally, what are your biggest challenges with the organization?
AM: The non-profit landscape is a tough one to navigate and we are finding our way. What we do is not common so we are essentially creating something new and fresh while looking for clues around us. Education, the right people, and hard work will always lead to success. We have the heart, will, and drive to make it happen, and for most on our team, this mission is very personal.
FC: How is the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program different from working with veterans?
AM: The difference being, we have veterans teaching kids, the ones teaching have been through our program. They get an opportunity to show a kid or mentor something that has helped them personally as an adult. It gives our crew a way to serve the community and the world without having a uniform, something that a lot lose when they leave the military.
FC: Anything else?
AM: I personally would like to thank everyone in the community for sticking with us and believing in our cause. This foundation takes an army to run and there are so many people, past and present, that have made it possible for us to continue what we do. Anyone on Folly who has given us a dollar or helped get us raffle items etc. has personally had a hand in our growth. We’re investing more time to keep the public posted on what we are up to and where we are going.
I want everyone to know that has supported us, that we have created something extremely unique, almost unheard of. We are one of a few groups in the world that provides year-round surf treatment and we will continue to need your support because a lot more goes into this than just getting a few surfboards to the beach. We are saving lives and helping some families get theirs back. You reading this can support us in many ways. There are very few options of grassroots community care for veterans but we are one of them and we need to be around for a long time. If you never served then check out how you can serve someone that did.
