Big Waves Inc

Big Waves focuses on gun safety nationwide and supports mental health initiatives for local youth. With only 6.5% overhead expenses, Big Waves maximizes contribution dollars to the cause, helping to make our country safer for future generations.

Testimonials

Having known and grown up with Vaughn Jr., Big Waves has deep personal meaning for me. I’ve been in association with the organization since its founding in 2018, and had the honor of receiving the Big Waves scholarship in the summer of 2022. Big Waves stands for Bringing Impact Globally With A Very Energetic Smile, and their motto is “Create a Ripple of Positivity”. Both of these ideas reflect Vaughn’s ever-reliable optimism and enthusiasm. Big Waves and what it stands for has inspired me to be better and be more positive in my own life. 

Big Waves was the product of a truly tragic event. I got my first brutal taste of the unfortunate state of the world when, as a 13 year old child, I was told that one of my best friends had been shot and killed while on a routine visit to the dentist. The feelings of not only deep grief, but hopelessness, were overwhelming during the months following Vaughn’s death. There were times when I was so restless, and felt a deep need to do something. But it always seemed like there was nothing that could be done. That’s when Big Waves came into the picture. 

This organization gave me the opportunity to channel my grief about Vaughn’s death into action. Through 5k races, golf tournaments, auctions, water polo clinics, Vaughn’s birthday event, and cleanups of Vaughn’s favorite bike park, I have witnessed Big Waves grow so much in the four years since its founding. What started as a loving community rallying around a grieving family grew into an organization that provides free gun locks. An organization that has set up gun safety clinics for children in multiple states. An organization that has taken Vaughn’s love for water polo, and poured that into the newly developed Colorado High School Water Polo Association. An organization that, each year, honors students like me with the Big Waves Water Polo Scholarship. 

When looking at everything Big Waves stands for, receiving the Water Polo Scholarship has been the biggest honor of my life. It did wonders to help relieve some of the financial burden of going to an out-of-state college in California, which has been my dream ever since I was a little kid. It also allows me to pay further tribute to my friend, and to Big Waves, with the new voice I received as a scholarship recipient. 

Big Waves is about taking those ripples of positivity, those small moments, and turning them into waves, or the big events and opportunities capable of changing lives. I am truly honored to be part of the Big Waves family. 

Flucticulos in undas                                                                                                                                                                                                             Ripples into waves                                                                                                                                                                                                               Written by Codi Ortiz - 2022 Scholarship Winner

For me, winning the Vaughn Bigelow, Jr. scholarship has been life-changing. I always knew that I wanted to play varsity water polo in college. Still, most people didn't think I had much of a chance, so I was losing my confidence and looking at club teams. Then the varsity water polo coach from Washington and Jefferson College reached out to me, and hope floated again. My ultimate goal is to become a prosecutor, and W&J has a respected pre-law program along with a varsity water polo program. I was committed to W&J when I learned I was selected as the first recipient of the Bigelow scholarship. I was honored to be chosen. I made a commitment to live my life the best I could, in a way that would always bring credit to Vaughn's memory.

My advice to young people is to find your passion and then pursue it, with all your best efforts, and you will succeed.
Written By Ryan Bannon - 2019 Scholarship Winner