1st Annual Art Gala raises the awareness of local surf artists and enviromental issues

The San Diego Surfrider Foundation has pulled off the event of the year by holding the 1st Annual Art Gala on May 4th at the beautiful Hyatt Regency in La Jolla. The goal for the evening was to raise awareness of local surf-artists' talents while also spotlighting the environmental issues surrounding San Diego's magnificent coastline. And of course, we hoped to raise funds necessary to continue the important work of the local Surfrider chapter.

In case you haven't heard, the Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education (C.A.R.E.). Founded in 1989, the San Diego Surfrider Foundation is one of the oldest, largest, and most active chapters within the international organization.

Geographically, the chapter boundaries reach from the semi-private beaches of Camp Pendleton in the north, to the oft-polluted Border at the Tijuana River. With more than 65 miles of coastline, two large bays, numerous lagoons and estuaries, and many miles of tributary waterways to look out for, the San Diego Surfrider Foundation faces an incredibly daunting challenge. The health of these waterways directly impacts not only our region's economy, but also the quality of life for citizens from the water's edge all the way to the desert.

The evening was made special by the sounds from the jazz group of Bob Magnusson, Tripp Sprague, Art Johnson, and Ryan Doyle. Funky jams were then provided by Inside Straight.

The artists included in the event included

• Eric Schumacher
• Donna Murray
• Steve Corriea
• Aaron Chang
• Al Scholl
• Todd Churchill Cooper
• Greg Gutierrez
• Jesse Dominguez
• Bill Mosley
• Tyler Jordan
• Chris Hubbard
• Jeremy Farson
• Robin Bright
• Owen McGoldrick
• Steve McClelland
• Christopher Lee
• Trish Nelson Toomey
• Laddie John Dill
• Dana Montlack
• Philipp Scholz Rittermann
• Holly Weston
• Mia Fiori
• Jack Davis

Sponsors that assisted with making the event such a success were Ronis and Associates Fine Art, the Framemaker, JRI Expert Installation and Delivery, Dona Adler and Giles Bateman, Jack Davis, Progressive Marketing Group, Richard Fiorentino, The Candle and Gift Factory, and Ocean Minded.

There were also awards given to honor people who have been making a significant difference in the realm of the San Diego Surfrider Foundation. Awards were given to:

• Lifetime waterman award - Skip Frye
• Annual business supporter award - Tyler Callaway from Surf Hardware Int'l
• Annual individual supporter award - Aaron Chang
• Special recognition was given to Donna Frye.

By supporting events like the Art Gala can help the Surfrider Foundation ensure a better future for our irreplaceable coastline. The raised funds will help us continue to fight coastal pollution, poorly planned coastal development, and restrictions on beach access that affect all of San Diego's citizens. This and future events are opportunities to bring us one step closer to achieving the healthy coastal ecosystem we all desire and deserve.