1st It’s About Sea Life Benefit & Paddle Out
December 19th, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – San Francisco, California, December 19th, 2008 – Local presenting sponsor Surf Addict and a host of supporting sponsors, partners and volunteers, including, Fuel TV, ASR, New Belgium Brewery, Treana Winery, RipCurl, Smart Water, Wise Surfboards, Dragon Alliance, WDZFX Web Designs, Nor Cal Surf shop and others, have successfully completed the 1st “It’s About Sea Life Benefit & Paddle Out.” The event was held at the “Aquarium of the Bay,” on Pier 39’s Fisherman’s Wharf, and was attended by a crowd of nearly 300 people, drawn from a “select” guest list that included local professionals, media, surf celebrities, artists and musicians, with names such as Maverick’s Big Wave pioneer Jeff Clark, professional long board surfer Robert “Wingnut” Weaver (The Endless Summer II (1994), Step Into Liquid (2003), Chasing Dora (2006)), 3 time WCT Champion Tom Curren, international Jewelry Designer Marzio Fiorini (The “Rubber” Man) and Will Henry (Save The Waves Coalition Founder and Board President).
In the evening of November 21st, under the “MAGICAL” sounds of local “DJ Paul,” local bands TWANG FEST and GUNS FOR SAN SEBASTIAN and guidance of MCEmile Hawley, the doors of the “Aquarium of the Bay” opened up at 6:00pm to give guests an opportunity to check out the sea life tanks and its inhabitants.
The reception kicked off at 7pm, followed by silent, live auction and a raffle, comprised of more than 80 items. Live and silent auction items included a Nor Cal surf shop donated “Surfers For Cetaceans” surfboard (shaped by Mark Andreini, glassed by Vince Broglio with artwork by Thomas Campbell), a SurfAid International surfboard (hand-shaped by professional big wave surfer Brad Gerlach), a Save The Waves donated “Stickman California” surfboard by Victor Otten, Ion Banner’s Maverick’s Big Wave Board, 2 memberships to Golden Gateway Swim & Tennis Club, a “California Ken” painting (by local artist Aubrey Rhodes), a “rubber” jewelry set (by international designer Marzio Fiorini) and a Hard Rock Café Guitar (signed by “The Monkeys”), amongst other one-of-a-kind items.
The amazing food was catered by Hard Rock Café’s Embarcadero location under the supervision and personal touch of Catering & Marketing Manager’s Bob Boemer. Sunset's Noriega Produce also contributed by donating delicious fruit and vegetable platters for the event.
Beverage sponsors included New Belgium Brewery, Lotus Vodka, Firestone Beer, US Pure Water Filtration Company and Paul Marino's Columbus Café in San Francisco.
“It’s About Sea Life – IASL” was the idea of 39 year old Milton Fiala, Jr., Founder and CEO of Surf Addict, a San Francisco based clothing, accessories, information and resources company, dedicated to helping surfers bring their “surf experience” to the next level. “I thought about the amazing work that all sea related non-profit organizations do separately, humanitarian and environmental, and thought it would be a great idea to bring them together. Since San Francisco is“breeding grounds” for free thinking, brilliant ideas, new initiatives, magnificent wealth and huge kindness, I envisioned such an event as being able to generate greater awareness by involving more than one non-profit organization in a single event…it should help us harvest new soil for future non-profit work" said Milton. "San Francisco is definitely ready for more…,” he added.
“This was really an Aloha type of event, with a strong sense of camaraderie,” commented Alex Melgarejo, CEO of Giant Reef Limo. “It was amazing to see people from all walks of life and from three different non-profit organizations coming together to celebrate sea life protection and the livelihood of those who depend on it as “means” of life.”
Examples of “heavy weight” performance and accomplishments by this year’s IASL’s beneficiaries are: SurfAid International’s founder, Dr. Dave Jenkins’ recent invitation, by UNICEF and World Relief, to give two presentations to groups of doctors and NGOs involved in childhood health in Indonesia and Surfrider Foundation’s continued fight to protect San Onofre/Trestles ~ a major step in this battle was Surfrider’s ability to have elected officials sign their endorsement list.
IASL’s first year event generated nearly $20,000 and the net proceeds were distributed to this year’s beneficiaries - SurfAid International, Save The Waves Coalition and Surfrider Foundation – a small portion of the proceeds is being sent to professional surfer's turned activist, Dave Rastovich’s “Surfer’s For Cetaceans,” in recognition of their important work of raising awareness of the slaughtering of whales and dolphins throughout the globe.
In the morning of November 22nd, during the Paddle Out portion of IASL's event, over 50 participants, ranging from ages of seven to seventy, participated by either jumping in the cold waters of the San Francisco Bay, at Crissy Field, East Beach, or joining in the prayers and vows for awareness of bloody whaling and dolphin hunts throughout the globe, pollution and destruction of our majestic beaches and waves and the depredation of sea life in general.
“This is a great event that the Surf Addict crew, partners, sponsors and volunteers put together and it was an honor for me to be chosen as the MC!" commented Judith, the Master of Ceremony for the Paddle Out portion of this year's event.
“The success of our first year’s event was the result of the commitment and participation of all the partners, sponsors, volunteers and organizers. San Francisco's Sweet Proposals Catering Manager, Carla Gonzalez, is only of the many examples of local sponsors and volunteers who jumped in at the last minute and to add tremendous value to the this year's event success." said Joshua Montgomery, IASL’s Volunteer and Logistics Coordinator.
“It definitely would not have happened without everyone’s help and we are happy with the results of this year’s event, but already looking forward to next year's event” added Bob Leonelli, IASL’s Vice-President.
Event t-shirts were designed by Frank Glinski, printed by Ape Do Good and sponsored by East Coast's Extension Clothing and Top Education Guide.com
The video and picture coverage of the event was donated, respectively, by event partner and sponsors www.BlackSurferDocumentary.com, www.SquidInkPhoto.com and Samuel Tyler Henderson ~ they will be available for viewing under www.surfaddict.com and www.itsaboutsealife.org
Event Images available by request
Phone Contact – Milton Fiala, (415) 948-5889
Supporting websites –
http://www.itsaboutsealife.org/
http://www.surfaddict.com
http://www.surfaidinternational.org/
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OUR 2008 Partners & Sponsors:
Event Partners:
Fuel TV, ASR, Twang Fest Band, Guns For San Sebastian Band, Black Surfer Documentary, Marzio Fiorini.
Event Sponsors:
New Belgium Brewing, Aviso Surfboards,Treana Winery, Verve Energy Drinks, WISE Surfboards, Luba Muzichenko(Zephyr Real Estate), Rip Curl, Nor Cal Surf Shop, Noriega Produce, Aubrey Rhodes Paintings, 42 Surfboards, Golden Gateway Swim & Tennis Club, GiantReefLimo.com, Ana J. Amaya, D.D.S., M.S., Mollusk Surf Shop, Dragon Alliance, Randon Ridge Wines, Lotus Vodka, Sweet Proposals, Marie Weber Event Productions, TopEducationGuide.com, Extension Clothing, US Pure Water Filtration Company, Aqua Surf Shop, GFH Boards, Alex Martins Quality Surfboard Repairs, Squid Ink Photo, Columbus Café, Fish Restaurant(Sausalito), Vans Off The Wall, Smart Water, Clif Bar, Total Performance Health, Frank Lew - State Farm, Daniel Castro Band, Judalicious, Proof Lab, Java Beach Café, Premium Pour, Inc., Thinknicity, OCSC Sailing, Joint Juice, Tiffany's Desserts and
Hanks Creekside Restaurant.