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Your share could raise $30

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"Rowing For Reasons"- A tiny rowboat, going around the world, connecting us all.
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By Team Smiles (includes Aaron Carotta)
Verified organization Keep it all Delray Beach, FL, US Report
  • Story
  • Perks3
  • Campaigns1
  • Highlights
  • Updates25
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    • Campaigns1
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Team Smiles hasn't added a story.

Welcome! (Click the image to play)

One average guy named Aaron

One tiny rowboat named “Smiles”

One great cause for everyone

*********Update April 2025******** Aaron has been rowing since 2021, The journey has now gone halfway around the world, Aaron will be rowing on May 14th, 2025 from Papua New Guinea.  Effective now, 100% percent of all personal contributions will benefit one of the many campaigns below.  Any corporate sponsors funds will also go to Advocate Adventure, a new non-profit designed to offer others a future first step to their own adventure, and continued inspiration, to adventure on.  Learn more about the tax-deductible options at www.advocateadventure.com

As access and communication technologies grow, we are now more than ever poised to connect communities around the world. Some communities, however, few outsiders will ever see. And they could use our help too.

The Problem

We live in a world that’s influenced and polished in a way that makes it hard to know what’s actually going on out there. Not everyone in first world countries have the means or the knowledge to experience off-the-beaten-paths in the world and personally connect with the communities there. They don't know what other communities have or need in terms of food and supplies, they just go by what organizations tell them.  We are overloaded with information that tends to be paid marketing efforts to get to us, making it difficult to know what the impact of our efforts to help actually is.   

 

My Solution

Your donations -->  taken directly to the cause.

I know and have met some of the most wonderful communities on the planet. From the unspoken heroes around this world that you never hear about to those starving from hunger, dying quietly as bigger revenue headlines wash their stories away.  Now, I am taking my tiny rowboat ‘Smiles’ around the world to find it all and share it first-hand… from sea level!

On Oct 9th of 2021 I launched on my greatest expedition yet – expecting 3 to 5 years of more stories of unique communities around the world, reconnected with ones I have met from the past, featured the individuals that leave a positive footprint among them, and became the recipient of it all as well, seen worldwide June 15th, 2023.  Sharing these stories, from an unbiased perspective, humbled first-hand, factual footage, allowed me to show YOU what most never get a chance to experience... the chance to  see level!  

 

While there were plenty of trial and error moments, one in particular became a worldwide search.  On May 13th, 2023, roughly 1600 miles west of the Galapagos and an estimated 1600 miles east of the French Marquises Islands, I lost all communication with the world, when my solar panels, took on 2 rogue waves.  Irony to say the least, my journey took an amazing turn, when I became the recipient of humanity.  Rowing on for the following 33 days in the blind and complete silence, I saw what I personally came to see, God.  That outcome is within here and more importantly my rowboat 'Smiles' that capsized and was believed to have sunk, only to hav survived 1 year later, saved by the kind on Matuku Island.  So once again, the stories continue, with another dedicated campaign, in effort to help the Fijian now.  

 

 

2016 'Finding the Current', 'Longest

Solo Canoe or Kayak Attempt'

Did I mention I'll be doing this all while setting a Guinness World Record?!  Records aren't as important as the journey, but for a cause, sometimes helpful with the media.  

This row, will be the first human powered, circumnavigation, by Sea. 

No motor, no sail, just my own arms, with my own oars, and all of our own efforts here.

So what are we doing here?

With a learning disability particular to writing and reading, visual media is the only universal language I am skilled at capturing.  As a former journalist for both NBC and Fox affiliates, I have seen all sides to how the media industry works.  The good, bad, persuaded, and factual.  As well as one that won't get lost in a digital translation, as many others do. 

While I am making this as cost-effective and environmentally friendly (again… in a ROWBOAT!) as I can, I do still need help getting there! Smiles now needs more love for her fiberglass repairs, a few sponsored electronics, and a team of others that maybe able to simply be on call along the way, in various locations.  This campaign has allowed me to live on 10 dollars a day, sleeping in the vessel for most of the first 500 days.  it has also allowed me to document and edit short stories seen below, providing light on the much needed causes of the world, we don't always get to see.  There have even been moments of offerings to the communities in need, from many on here.   Small to some, big to them.                 

Together, we will be proving that supporters right here can make a difference by personally handing donations to random members of these communities, who never saw it coming. Imagine sitting in your comfy chair and smiling as you watch a video of your direct impact on the world.  Each sub-campaign, will have goals to0 reach, as the journey sheds lights on.   Just below you will find each country with the sub-campaigns details.  

 

Are you in???

Donate -  Click the Contribute Button above, select a Perk, or choose a specific Campaign below, and let us know which perk you would like.

Share - Tell a friend! Use the buttons above the share to social media or directly to a friend or loved one, and have them join the adventure.

 

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Perks

Featured
Personal Name On Smiles (PERK 1)
$100 USD Suggested
  • 25 claimed
  • 205 remaining

Anyone who contributes any amount will have their name on the outside of 'Smiles'.  It is just a way of remembering those who made this all possible, while helping others as well.  Your contribution will go towards your campaign of choice or the current campaign if only one is open at the time.  

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Featured
Sponsored Company Logo (PERK 2)
$2,500 USD Suggested

If you are a company interested in putting your logo on the outside of Smiles, we are offering a 12X24 space with a full social media campaign during the next year of rowing.  This will include a personal name or two as well from 'Perk 1'.  Space is limited to 8 slots and our team will align with your representative to be approach the cross marketing social media campaign as well.  This reward offers allows all of our campaigns to receive 100 percent of the proceeds, set up for each country visited.  

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  • Claim this perk
Sold out
SEE LEVEL, "Rowing My Boat" Glow in Dark Wristband
$50 USD + shipping
Ships Worldwide
Estimated delivery Sep 2021

GLOW in the dark too!!! Rowing day and night, remind yourself day and night, your rowing your own boat too. If you have ever heard the saying, Row Your Boat, most would agree this is a personal statement about doing what you have the ability to do and control in your own life. Special to Aaron's heart, "IT IS THE LIFELINE I STAND BEHIND"-the saying, just 'Rowing My Boat' explains anyone wearing it, uses the power and understanding you have to worry more about the things you can control in your life that indirectly allows others to "see level", while understanding we are all brothers and sisters. No pressure telling others what to do, respecting all other opinions, and leading truly by action, row row rowing your boat. I believe it's the movement that will inspire the world by empowering oneself. You can now get one of the official pending trademark items, officially here, sent by me personally to you. Thank you.

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Show Discontinued Perks
Discontinued
Adventure Aaron Coffee And Personal Message 2bags!
$125 USD Suggested
  • 6 claimed
Discontinued
The Smiles Wish
$35 USD
  • 1 claimed
Discontinued
Smiles Send Off, Ronald McDonald House Fundraiser
$25 USD
  • 9 claimed

Campaigns

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Featured
Personal Name On Smiles (PERK 1)
$100 USD Suggested
  • 25 claimed
  • 205 remaining

Anyone who contributes any amount will have their name on the outside of 'Smiles'.  It is just a way of remembering those who made this all possible, while helping others as well.  Your contribution will go towards your campaign of choice or the current campaign if only one is open at the time.  

More Less
  • Claim this perk
Featured
Sponsored Company Logo (PERK 2)
$2,500 USD Suggested

If you are a company interested in putting your logo on the outside of Smiles, we are offering a 12X24 space with a full social media campaign during the next year of rowing.  This will include a personal name or two as well from 'Perk 1'.  Space is limited to 8 slots and our team will align with your representative to be approach the cross marketing social media campaign as well.  This reward offers allows all of our campaigns to receive 100 percent of the proceeds, set up for each country visited.  

More Less
  • Claim this perk
Sold out
SEE LEVEL, "Rowing My Boat" Glow in Dark Wristband
$50 USD + shipping
Ships Worldwide
Estimated delivery Sep 2021

GLOW in the dark too!!! Rowing day and night, remind yourself day and night, your rowing your own boat too. If you have ever heard the saying, Row Your Boat, most would agree this is a personal statement about doing what you have the ability to do and control in your own life. Special to Aaron's heart, "IT IS THE LIFELINE I STAND BEHIND"-the saying, just 'Rowing My Boat' explains anyone wearing it, uses the power and understanding you have to worry more about the things you can control in your life that indirectly allows others to "see level", while understanding we are all brothers and sisters. No pressure telling others what to do, respecting all other opinions, and leading truly by action, row row rowing your boat. I believe it's the movement that will inspire the world by empowering oneself. You can now get one of the official pending trademark items, officially here, sent by me personally to you. Thank you.

More Less
Show Discontinued Perks
Discontinued
Adventure Aaron Coffee And Personal Message 2bags!
$125 USD Suggested
  • 6 claimed
Discontinued
The Smiles Wish
$35 USD
  • 1 claimed
Discontinued
Smiles Send Off, Ronald McDonald House Fundraiser
$25 USD
  • 9 claimed

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