Frank Family Vineyards is proud to be a certified cleanup partner of 4ocean, supporting their mission to help end the ocean plastic crisis. Since 2017, 4ocean has been leading the clean ocean movement, recovering more than 40 million pounds of plastic waste and man-made debris.
As part of Frank Family Vineyards annual “Frank for a Cause” charitable giving campaign, through July 2026, every wine bottle sold will remove one pound of waste from the world’s oceans, rivers and coastlines.
To date, Frank Family Vineyards has supported the cleanup of ten beaches worldwide and has funded the removal of more than 25,000 pounds of trash and plastic while employing 44 full-time boat captains and crew. During summer 2025, the winery hosted community cleanups in cities across the country, including Chicago, Newport, Cape Cod, Boston, and Seattle.
To learn more about Frank Family and 4ocean’s ongoing partnership for the planet, Haute Living San Francisco talked to Leslie Frank, Co-Founder of Frank Family Vineyards, where she also spearheads multiple philanthropic initiatives.
HL: You’re personally involved with far-reaching advocacy work, extending to the arts, health, social justice, and more. How did your initiative, Frank For a Cause, learn about the work being done by 4ocean in Florida?
LF: My husband Rich and I have always shared a passion for philanthropy and, as vintners, we are very close to the environment and agriculture. Sustainability is at the core of everything we do at Frank Family Vineyards. We are proud to be Napa Green-certified in both our winery and vineyards and demonstrate our commitment to sustainability through every aspect of our work, from viticulture practices to our annual Frank for a Cause campaign.
When selecting partners for our annual Frank for a Cause campaign, we look to the broader community and the issues in most need of attention. In years past, certain initiatives have called to us based on current world events, and our partnership with 4ocean is no exception. With every drop we drink, we are connected to the ocean, it regulates our climate, supplies, food, creates jobs and drives economic growth.
Witnessing this organization’s impact firsthand inspired us to team up with 4ocean and support their mission to help improve the ocean plastic crisis. Rich and I also had the opportunity to meet 4ocean CEO and Co-Founder Alex Schulze as well as Director of Cleanups Tony Ernst, at the first Frank Family 4ocean cleanup in Florida in September 2024. Along with members of our team, we spent two days with the 4ocean crew as we cleaned several hundred pounds of trash from beaches and coastlines to prevent debris and microplastics from entering the water and harming nearby marine life habitats.
HL: The global movement to remove plastic from our oceans is a message that’s both heartbreaking and urgent. How can people help by purchasing a bottle of Frank Family Wine?
LF: Through our ongoing partnership, supporting 4ocean’s mission is as simple as purchasing a bottle of Frank Family wine. For every bottle sold, one pound of plastic and trash will be removed from the world’s oceans, rivers and coastlines.
We recently extended our partnership with 4ocean through July 2026 and launched a series of community cleanups across the country. From coastal beaches to inland waterways, we’re bringing our fans together to create a wave of change. None of this would be possible without their support! More information about these events and this partnership can be found on our website, frankfamilyvineyards.com.
HL: It’s startling that 771 pounds of trash and debris were removed in the Napa River Cleanup event this spring. Are there more ways people can offset the plastics they use while also raising awareness about the harm being caused to wildlife, our oceans, rivers, coastlines, and to the planet?
LF: Protecting our rivers, oceans and wildlife starts with the choices we make every day. Beyond joining cleanups and supporting organizations such as 4ocean, we can all take steps to address the root of the problem by reducing the plastic we use—opting for reusable bottles and bags, choosing sustainable brands and buying in bulk to cut down on packaging. Just as important, it’s about personal responsibility when we’re out in nature, picking up trash when we see it, leaving no trace behind and encouraging others to do the same.
Supporting educational programs and sharing these efforts with others helps build awareness and inspires collective action. These small, thoughtful changes add up, and together we can protect the waterways and coastlines that sustain us all.
FrankFamilyVineyards.com/philanthropy/4ocean
Images: Courtesy of Frank Family and/or Devon Fox