San Diego entrepreneur John Conover is known up and down the East and West coasts for his regional tide calendars featuring gorgeous ocean photography and tide charts. Just in time for holiday giving, Conover has launched CalendarLink.org, an easy calendar fundraiser company that invites supporters of schools and charities to buy a custom photo calendar for $19.95, with up to $10 going back to the organization.
“As a founder and member of various nonprofit organizations, I totally understand the financial struggle they all face,” said Conover. “Most fundraisers involve hundreds of hours of volunteer time and the competition for dollars is steep. I believe CalendarLink will make it easier for schools, sports teams and charities to raise money selling a product people already want to buy.”
To date CalendarLink.org hosts websites for PETA, Rotary International, California Surf Lifesaving Association, Presidio Soccer League, the Helen Woodward Animal Center and nearly a dozen San Diego schools. There are no sign-up fees or back-end charges involved for participating organizations.
“The idea for CalendarLink.org evolved from existing customers wanting to personalize tide calendars with their own family and vacation photos,” said Conover. “Calendars purchased through CalendarLink.org can also include customized captions and key dates like school holidays, sports tournaments and birthdays.”
Conover, a former professional football and baseball player, turned to surfing when his pro sports days were over. His love of the ocean and a need to track high and low tides led him to create Tidelines, Inc. in 1981. Conover now sells more than 300,000 tide calendars and tide books annually throughout the United States, Australia and Mexico.
A longtime San Diegan, Conover is deeply involved in both local and international charitable efforts, including founding the Surfrider Foundation’s first chapter in San Diego, starting Family Connections at three Encinitas high schools and supporting Hand in Hand Schools, a program that builds peace between Jews and Arabs in Israel. For these and other good works, the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce honored Conover as the 2009 Community Hero of the Year.
“CalendarLink is definitely a way for me to give back,” said Conover. “An organization doesn’t have to be big to benefit. At $10 per calendar, the numbers can really add up.”
To make a custom photo calendar or to learn about how your nonprofit or charitable organization can utilize this easy calendar fundraiser tool, visit www.CalendarLink.org or call 760-707-9196.
