NAC Member Mark Schulein is a self-titled “huge fan of NAC”.
Like many Southern California kids, Mark grew up surfing – shortboarding first, then long boarding. And then he went down what seems to be the common rabbit hole of water crafts when you really love the ocean and competing. He got into prone paddling…and then Stand Up padding… then Outriggers…and then Surfski. As he fell down each rabbit hole the common thread, besides the ocean, was trying them out and training out of the Back Bay and NAC since the mid 90s.
Mark has been a regular at the famous 5:45 a.m. “Willie Workouts” for many years where he rotates between OC1 and surfski and jokes that he showers more at NAC than at home because of those morning workouts. “I consider it one of the three points on my triangle of life, my house, my office, and the Newport Aquatic Center,” Mark said. But more than being a NAC “lifer”, Mark is a NAC fan and sees beyond just his regular workout times.
“I’m a huge fan of paddling. I’m a huge fan of rowing. I’m a huge fan of the junior programs and Makapo,” he said. “I love the multi-universe that makes up NAC, and I always quote Billy when he says, ‘If you only come here at 5:30 in the morning, you only know one chapter. If you come at ten, it’s different. If you come at noon, two, four, six, it’s all different.’” Mark has loved seeing the kids come into the rowing programs as just that…kids and then come out men and women off to top Universities on scholarships. “I’m just enamored with everything that NAC provides to the community regardless of what sport or activity you’re into,” he said.
Crown Ace Hardware’s May Round Up Raised $6,100 for NAC’s We Are Ocean
Needless to say, Mark understands the make-up of NAC in its entirety and has been a generous supporter over his years here. From donations of equipment or BBQs to our summer programs, to “Round-Up” events at the Crown Ace Hardware stores he owns, to being a key member, MC, and Auctioneer at the Sea of Support Gala fundraiser which supports NAC’s We Are Ocean Program.
We Are Ocean wasn’t Mark’s first foray into ocean and cancer-related fundraising. Mark ran Ocean Of Hope for ten years, and lent support to others over the years including another NAC partner program OpenWater. How Mark got involved in We Are Ocean happened in a serendipitous way–he met founder Jack Marshall Shimko many years ago through surfing and then again through prone paddling and followed Jack’s journey as he did his Paddle to Live campaigns. When Jack and We Are Ocean partnered with NAC the connection only deepened–two passions colliding! “When Jack connected with NAC, it was like the perfect recipe to do something. And that’s when we started rounding up and doing our fundraising through Crown,” Mark said.
As for how Mark became the MC and Auctioneer at the Sea of Support Gala fundraiser, many NAC “lifers” will get (and laugh)–because Billy asked him to. “He was the perfect person to do it,” Billy said simply. After his initial hesitancy, (due to lack of experience fundraising on stage) Mark agreed. “I think we kept it really cool, really on brand, really classy and fun, and still raised a lot of money without being cheeseball. It’s been really special to help fundraise and build the awareness and have the impact for all these folks in the cancer community that really deserve our help,” Mark said of being involved in the gala. He also loved working with and getting to know the Sea of Support Gala Co-Hosts Bob Hurley and Danny Kwock – both who were some of Mark’s idols growing up surfing.
You would think between being a family man, owner of multiple stores, paddling at NAC five or six days a week, and being a fundraiser extraordinaire that Mark’s calendar would be full! But Mark still finds time to host a podcast where he “captures the stories of interesting people doing inspiring things” – aptly called “The Mark Schulein Passion Project”. Be sure to check out Mark’s podcast to hear inspirational stories from some awesome people–a few of whom are NAC members themselves!
Mark interviewing Ethan Wayne, Director of the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, for the Passion Project Podcast