It was the craziest and coolest thing I’ve experienced in my life: a 40-ton humpback whale heaved its tail two feet from my face. As I glanced down at the mile-deep clear blue waters of Tonga below me, GoPro in hand, fins on my feet, with nothing between me and this beautiful, larger-than-life creature, it hit me ... this was downright unbelievable!

How did I get here – and more importantly, how did I get paid to be here? I’m a Surf For Life ambassador at Salesforce, which means I’m able to source new Surf For Life volunteer projects around the world. At Salesforce all employees receive seven paid days of Volunteer Time Off to spend giving back to causes we believe in, so I’m truly encouraged to take time away to make a difference. In addition to Tonga, my travels have given me the opportunity to surf the long point breaks of El Salvador, swim in caves in the Philippines, and eat the freshest sushi in Japan … and I’m also heading to Cambodia later this month.

So what is Surf For Life, and how do you get to join me on these amazing trips? Surf For Life is a San Francisco-based 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve coastal communities through hands-on projects building schools, health clinics, community centers, and more. But it’s not all work – participants also get to immerse themselves in a different culture, learn about a new part of the world, and have fun (often by surfing!). It’s no surprise that almost 500 of Salesforce employees have gone on trips, contributing close to 20,000 hours and raising over one million dollars for Surf for Life!

The Surf For Life ambassador program at Salesforce was launched in September 2013 to boost recruitment for our programs. Our team spreads the word and encourages employees to sign up by posting on Chatter, our internal social network, and hosting lunch-and-learn meetings at regional offices. In return for our service, ambassadors are invited to travel with Surf For Life executive management to help source new projects. On these trips, we meet with local officials like mayors and school principals to determine the main priorities of the local communities, and quantify the impact our volunteers can provide. Then we get to witness how the projects we source come to life, which is both rewarding and inspiring.

The effect Surf For Life trips have on participants is truly life-changing. People sign up because it looks fun, but ultimately the interactions and impact our employees have with local communities is their main takeaway. In El Salvador, I’ll never forget how excited local students were when we unveiled a soccer court and playground we had built and funded. Their faces just lit up. That, to me, is more memorable than any surfing or exploring experience.

Many other companies support employees who participate in Surf for Life trips, and individuals are also encouraged to sign up. If you’re interested in embarking on the trip of a lifetime – and helping make the world a better place in the process – I highly recommend you check it out. You won’t regret it! Find info and sign up for upcoming trips at surfforlife.org.

Check out my pictures below!

Painting classrooms and school walls at an elementary school in Vavu’u, Tonga.

Tonga whale swim pictures.

Handing out school supplies in Sulangan, Philippines.

Meeting the mayor of Sulangan in the Philippines to discuss what projects the community needed done after the devastation of the Super Typhoon.

Presenting the Surf for Life mission at Salesforce Tokyo.

Handing out Salesforce shirts in El Salvador.

Building a soccer court at an elementary school in El Cuco, El Salvador.

Me, surfing in El Salvador one morning before heading to the job site.

Does this all sound awesome to you? Consider joining the #SalesforceOhana. Learn more about our culture and view open positions at salesforce.com/careers.