About Waves of Opportunity Foundation
Empowering Lives, Creating Opportunities
Waves of Opportunity Foundation empowers historically excluded youth through ocean exploration, blending blue econcomy education with hands-on surfing experiences to inspire environmental stewardship. Our location offers unique access to the ocean, where experiential learning through surfing and exploration fosters an appreciation for marine ecosystems. We actively track participant numbers, demographic diversity, and shifts in environmental attitudes, striving to inspire the next generation of marine science leaders. Through various initiatives and fundraising efforts, we aim to make a lasting impact and improve the lives of those we serve. Join us in our journey to make a difference and be part of a community that cares.
Our Mission
Our mission is to expand ocean access and inspire historically excluded youth to become confident ocean stewards and future marine science leaders through inclusive, surf-based marine education.
Meet Our Team
Get to know the passionate individuals who are the driving force behind our foundation. Our team is committed to our cause and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others.
Vanessa De La Garza
Founder
With a Master’s in Environmental Science and a BA in Marine Biology, Vanessa De La Garza is passionate about inspiring underserved youth to pursue science and environmental stewardship. She brings hands-on research experience from her undergraduate studies in Australia, where she worked in a coral reef research laboratory conducting her own experiments and supporting restoration efforts at the University of Technology Sydney. After graduating, she further honed her expertise at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, contributing to coral reef restoration projects in Hawaii.
As an avid surfer, free diver, and spearfisher, Vanessa combines her love for the ocean with advocacy for inclusive communities. As an administrator for the Latinx Surf Club, she fosters connection and empowerment through ocean‑based activities. Her dedication to marine conservation led her to create Waves of Opportunity, a program that inspires youth to explore science and environmentalism through ocean education and activities.
Outside of Waves of Opportunity, Vanessa also volunteers with the Ocean Animal Response and Research Alliance (OARRA) as a trained first responder for marine mammals in Los Angeles County. In this role, she responds to stranded and deceased seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales, documenting cases through photos and data, supporting safe handling when needed, and collaborating with veterinarians and biologists in the field. She uses this frontline experience to better understand local threats to marine life and to inform the conservation, education, and outreach work she leads with youth.
Vanessa Grace Rolon
Surf Program Director
With 22 years of surfing experience, 17 years as an educator, and a certification as a surf instructor, Vanessa Rolon brings a deep love of teaching and the ocean into everything she does. As a full‑time PE instructor at Huntington Beach High School, she uses her classroom as a springboard to introduce students to movement, teamwork, and wave‑based learning, often connecting physical education with ocean literacy and outdoor wellness.
Vanessa is the founder of the Latinx Surf Club and of Women Who Surf facebook group, a 37,000‑member community that celebrates women in the water and champions inclusivity, connection, and representation in surf culture. Her approach emphasizes skill‑building, confidence, and respect for the environment, making surfing accessible and transformative for all, especially underrepresented communities.
Her work naturally aligns with the Waves of Opportunity Foundation’s mission, bridging physical education, ocean‑based recreation, and environmental stewardship to create life‑changing opportunities for youth through the power of the ocean.