Teaching kids about their world through fishing and a love for the sea.
Our Mission: Improve lives, protect the environment, share wonder, spread joy.
To be successful in life’s journey, there are certain traits that will pave the way: Patience, perseverance, dealing productively with stress, having fun, respect for others, situational awareness, giving back. Some of these traits are innate, but many can be learned. And most of these can be learned through fishing.
To fulfill its mission, the Friedman Family Foundation is currently working with the following organizations and initiatives:
Operation: SPLASH
Freeport, NY
The Sidney Friedman Fishing Camp
(Established 2024)
Created in partnership with Operation: SPLASH, this summer program brings together kids from the Long Island region of New York for week-long sessions that include classroom instruction and time on the water. Each student learns the basics of fishing, fishing regulations, the marine ecosystem, water safety, and boating.
Seacamp
Big Pine Key, FL
The Sidney Friedman Fishing Program
(Established 2025)
Seacamp’s mission is to create awareness of the complex, fragile marine world and foster critical thinking and informed decision making about the uses of natural resources, including how to fish responsibly. Residential programs funded by the Friedman Family Foundation are offered to schools and other organized groups throughout the year.
July 2025 FIshing Camp, Freeport, NY
Seacamp, October 2025
Seacamp, October 2025
Seacamp, October 2025
July 2025 FIshing Camp, Freeport, NY
July 2025 FIshing Camp, Freeport, NY
July 2025 FIshing Camp, Freeport, NY
July 2025 FIshing Camp, Freeport, NY
July 2024 FIshing Camp, Freeport, NY
Students fishing on their own, Freeport, NY, 2024
Sidney Friedman:
A life lived well
Throughout his life, Sidney Friedman (1932-2016) loved boating and fishing. He was also an entrepreneur, inventor, and successful businessman. He served as chairman of Opsales, and was a founding member and president of the Sunglass Association of America. Sidney lived between Oceanside, NY and Jupiter, FL, where he spent most winters, often aboard his boat the Best Revenge.
The Foundation
Sidney passed his love for the ocean, for boating, and for fishing on to his two sons. In fact, they adopted his passion and took it even further, becoming accomplished deep ocean fishermen.
Tragically, both Andrew and Dean predeceased their father. To honor his sons, Sidney formed The Friedman Family Foundation.
The time the three men spent together on the water allowed them to form strong relationships and a common ethos. They got to know each other and themselves. They had a great time even when doing nothing for hours at a time. These are the lessons they shared with each other. Patience, perseverance, problem solving, humility, and understanding that much of life is about waiting for the right time.
The mission of the foundation is to share these lessons with other families, with other kids. To teach about the world through the experience of fishing and boating. And to understand that none of us is alone in this world; we are all connected to each other and to nature.
"Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it."
-Harry Middleton
How to participate:
If you would like to know more about The Friedman Family Foundation, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.