For the fifth consecutive year, Heal the Bay has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent evaluator of charities. Only 5% of the 5,400 charities rated by Charity Navigator have earned the 4-star rating for 5 consecutive evaluations.

Receiving four out of four stars indicates that Heal the Bay excels, as compared to other charities in America, in successfully managing the organization's finances in an efficient and effective manner (please view Heal the Bay's rating page at Charity Navigator).

Thus, when you give to Heal the Bay by joining, donating or shopping, you'll know that your contribution directly supports activities to restore precious Southern California coastal waters and watersheds and protect public health at the beach.

Some of the activities your contribution supports include:

• Scientific and legal experts
  Our experts work daily on science and policy issues to achieve the goal of clean and safe Southern California coastal waters. This work has been instrumental in improving local water quality by pressuring for improvement of local sewage treatment plants, enforcement of water pollution laws, and identifying other sources of coastal pollution.
• Volunteer programs
  Programs such as as the Malibu Creek Stream Team utilize volunteers in water chemistry testing and watershed mapping while Coastal Cleanup Day and Adopt-A-Beach programs employ volunteers in a hands-on approach to keeping beaches, rivers, and creeks debris-free.
• Educational programs
  Our Key to the Sea and Speakers Bureau programs spread the word about pollution prevention and coastal stewardship to more than 35,000 people of all ages every year. Heal the Bay's renowned Beach Report Card grades water quality on an A-F system at over 450 locations along the California coast, showing where it is safe to swim and surf.

Heal the Bay was founded on a simple premise - that our oceans and beaches should be safe for everyone who loves to swim, surf, fish, or simply enjoy the beauty of the Southern California Coast. Help us reach that goal - join or donate today - be part of the solution and help make a difference in the quality of our Southern California coast!