MasterCraft Boat Company, a subsidiary of MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc. and the best-selling towboat brand, today announced the return of its Surf to Save Lives initiative for its fourth consecutive year. The season-long campaign continues to rally the boating community and transform time on the water into meaningful support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.. For 2026, MasterCraft is again pledging $75,000 to help fund St. Jude’s mission to treat and defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Since its launch in 2023, Surf to Save Lives has generated a powerful impact, with MasterCraft contributing $225,000 in three years. This campaign underscores the brand’s ongoing commitment to making a difference both on and off the water and connecting the greater boating community around the country.
From May 19 through September 30, participants can take part by logging time spent on the water through the MasterCraft Connect app. For every minute recorded behind a boat engaging in watersports activities such as wakesurfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, or tubing, MasterCraft will donate $1 to St. Jude, up to $75,000. New this year, Surf to Save Lives expands participation, introducing a text-in option that broadens access for those who want to make a direct donation to support life-saving efforts of St. Jude – in addition to the 75,000 pledge. The campaign is open to participants nationwide, regardless of brand or boat ownership, as anyone can join by downloading the MasterCraft Connect app and logging their time.
“We’ve always believed the best days on the water are the ones shared with family and friends, and this campaign gives those moments even greater purpose,” said Krista Schipner, Vice President of Marketing at MasterCraft. “Surf to Save Lives continues to grow because the boating community shows up in a meaningful way, and we’re proud to keep building on that momentum in year four and support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.”
Returning in support of the campaign, former professional wakeboarder and childhood cancer survivor, Alexa Score, continues to champion Surf to Save Lives, using her platform to share her story, drive participation, and spotlight the impact behind every minute logged.
“Surf to Save Lives is incredibly close to my heart, and getting to support a cause like St. Jude alongside MasterCraft means so much to me,” said Score. “This April, I had the opportunity to visit St. Jude and see firsthand the incredible work they’re doing for children and their families, and it’s truly inspiring. To witness that level of care and hope up close, and then know I’m part of a brand that’s actively supporting that mission, is really special. It makes every minute on the water part of something much bigger.”
At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food, allowing them to focus solely on helping their child heal so they can focus on helping their child live. As one of the world’s leading pediatric research hospitals, the cost of care for a single patient can exceed $1 million. Through four years of Surf to Save Lives, MasterCraft contributions have helped support critical aspects of patient care and family services, making a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most. Donations from the campaign help provide essential resources including:
- $10 could help provide a new toy for hospital play areas
- $50 could help provide patient activities
- $150 could help provide groceries for a St. Jude family for one week
- $800 could help provide three hours of physical therapy for a patient
- $1,500 could help cover the cost of one day of chemotherapy
“St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is proud to partner with MasterCraft and the generous boating community Surf to Save Lives to benefit St. Jude families,” said Lyles Eddins, senior vice president of relational advancement for ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. “This family-friendly opportunity to support St. Jude helps give children facing cancer a chance to live their best life and enjoy the moments that matter most.”
Read Next: On Board With: Alexa Score
Those without access to a boat can still participate by texting SURF to 626262.
For more information about MasterCraft and the Surf to Save Lives campaign, please visit mastercraft.com/surftosavelives and follow MasterCraft and Alexa Score on Instagram.
About MasterCraft
MasterCraft is a world-renowned innovator, designer, manufacturer, and marketer of premium performance sport boats. Founded in 1968, MasterCraft has cultivated its iconic brand image through a rich history of industry-leading innovation, and more than five decades after the original MasterCraft made its debut, the company’s goal remains the same – to continue building the world’s best ski, wakeboard, wake surf, and luxury performance powerboats.
About MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc.
Headquartered in Vonore, TN, MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc. is a leading innovator, designer, manufacturer, and marketer of premium recreational powerboats through its three brands, MasterCraft, Crest, and Balise. For more information about MasterCraft Boat Holdings, please visit Investors.MasterCraft.com, MasterCraft.com, CrestPontoonBoats.com, and BalisePontoonBoats.com.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80% in the United States, and it won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.
