SSI and Platinum Pro Support Dive Pirates Foundation
The Platinum Pro Foundation, a non-profit organization that has been supported by SSI since its inception in 1993, is announcing a new focus and mission. Funds raised through donations and during the Platinum Pro awards each year at DEMA are now officially earmarked for the Dive Pirates Foundation, announced by Doug McNeese, SSI President and CEO.
“Platinum Pro has always been about positive impact on our communities. By working with Dive Pirates and the returning injured war veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, Platinum Pro now has a direct impact on the lives of these heroes’” said McNeese.
“We are humbled to be selected by a group with the history and prestige of Platinum Pro and we look forward to the partnership as we carry out our mission,” commented Barbara Thompson, co-founder of Dive Pirates Foundation.
The Platinum Pro Foundation, a non-profit foundation was established as a legacy on behalf of the Platinum Pros. The foundation is a vehicle for the pros to give back to the industry they founded and the sport they love. Its mission is: to help individuals with physical challenges experience the freedom of scuba diving while increasing the awareness and use of Adaptive Scuba Programs throughout the world.
Another important relationship for Dive Pirates is SSI and the member retail stores. SSI is supplying training materials, certification cards, and is actively recruiting new stores to become chapters.SSI believes that dive retailers are the gateway to our sport and the backbone of the industry. Dive retailers are and remain the industry’s primary distribution channel. The SSI Business Model is carefully constructed to create sales, keep divers active and customers loyal to the retail store. SSI is mindful that we are responsible for helping dive retailers develop long-term, active divers, and we take that responsibility seriously. Our goal is to provide the tools a dive center needs to succeed. For more information on SSI or their retail stores, please go to their website www.divessi.com.
The Dive Pirates Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing scuba diving to persons with disabilities and joining them with the mainstream of divers. Its vision is to create a community of adaptive divers that will dive and travel in the mainstream world of scuba diving through education and overcoming obstacles. For more information or to make a donation, go to www.divepirates.org or contact us.
