REALTORS® Help Protect Anna Maria Island’s Shoreline with 12,000 Sea Oats

As part of the Florida REALTORS® Clean Up Florida Waters initiative, RASM members rolled up their sleeves alongside Keep Manatee Beautiful and dozens of community volunteers to plant more than 12,000 sea oats across Anna Maria Island.

🌊 A Weekend to Strengthen the Shoreline

The two-day planting effort spanned the length of the island, restoring dunes in multiple locations. For RASM members, the day began at Coquina Beach, where they gathered to hear instructions, learn proper planting techniques, and stage thousands of sea oats for the community-wide effort.

On Friday, RASM volunteers dedicated hours to preparing and organizing plants for the weekend event. Many returned on Saturday to help with the hands-on planting, joining forces with residents, business partners, and other REALTORS® to put thousands of shoots into the sand.

Sea oats may look delicate, but they are one of Florida’s most powerful natural tools in protecting shorelines. Their deep roots hold dunes together, reduce erosion, and create vital habitat for shorebirds, insects, and nesting sea turtles.

“This little tiny plant is one of the mightiest things we can do. It’s better than any of these trees. Trust me,” said Jennifer Hoffman, Executive Director of Keep Manatee Beautiful, who guided RASM volunteers before the work began. “If these things last three months, they’ll last forever. When you come back in a year, what looks sparse now will be full and thriving, keeping these dunes in place for generations.”

🤝 REALTORS® and Business Partners Leading by Example

RASM members were a crucial part of the weekend’s success. Special thanks go to the RASM Community Outreach Committee, including Chair Christy Walters, REALTOR®, and committee member Gemma Hobbs, REALTOR®, who was instrumental in ensuring our RASM volunteers could be part of this impactful community project.

This initiative was made possible entirely through local support—funded by the cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, along with donations from the Anna Maria Island Garden Club, The Moose, and generous private individuals who care deeply about protecting our beaches.

💚 A Community Effort with Lasting Results

What started as a single weekend project will have ripple effects for decades to come. With over 12,000 sea oats now taking root, Anna Maria Island’s dunes are stronger, safer, and better prepared to protect both wildlife and the local community.

This initiative is a testament to what can happen when REALTORS® and business partners join hands with their neighbors to make a meaningful impact on the environment. Thank you to every volunteer who came out and helped preserve one of Florida’s most cherished shorelines.

📸 Event Highlights

The smiles said it all! Here are a few snapshots of the teamwork, sandy hands, and new sea oats ready to take root along the shore.

🎥 Want to see the action in motion? Check out the full video from the event on the RASM YouTube channel