Surfrider Foundation 20th Anniversary Gala and Surfboard Auction
Sony Pictures Studios – Culver City, CA
June 17, 2004
photos by Dan Levy
Sony Pictures Studios played host to the Surfrider Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Gala celebration. An amazing collection of one of a kind surfboards shaped by the surf industry’s most respected board builders were auctioned to raise money for the Surfrider Foundation. It was standing room only as Shaun Tomson and Steve Pezman introduced Sotheby’s auction house to execute the effort which raised $425,000. Highlights included the Matt Kivlin Balsa gun being awarded to the highest bidder at a humble $40,000. All the while, Jack Johnson and Perry Farrell took the stage outside to provide a classic musical performance after they were honored with Keeper of the Coast Awards.
It was like walking around in a history book, brushing elbows with legendary surfers, shapers and celebrities like Shaun Tomson, Joel Tudor, Rob Machado, Holly Beck, Jeff Ho, Jack Johnson, Perry Farrell and Ben Aipa. Congrats to the Surfrider Foundation and respect to all who donated boards for the event. Shapers featured in the event were: Ben Aipa, Hobie Alter, Simon Anderson, Robert August, Bill Barnfield, Ken Bradshaw, Drew Brophy, Allan Byrne, Malcolm and Duncan Campbell, Maurice Cole, George Downing, Terry Fitzgerald, Skip Frye, Jeff Ho, Barry Kanaiaupuni, Matt Kivlin, Gerry Lopez, Al Merrick, Spider Murphy, Greg Noll, Tom Parrish, Pat Rawson, Mark Richards, Rusty, Donald Takayamam, Joel Tudor, Dale Velzy and Renny Yater.
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 37,000 members and 60 chapters across the United States and Puerto Rico, with international affiliates in Australia, Europe, Japan and Brazil. The Surfrider Foundation 20th Anniversary Gala and Surfboard Auction was presented by Miller Lite, Swatch, Billabong and the Wasserman Group. All proceeds from the evening benefit the Surfrider Foundation. For more information on the event, go to www.surfrider.org.
SURFRIDER FOUNDATION UPDATE
Surfrider Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Celebration A Huge Success –
By all accounts it was a night to remember, as the Surfrider Foundation celebrated its 20th Anniversary by hosting a VIP gala and surfboard auction at the Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California this past June 17th. All told, the event attracted nearly one thousand guests and raised over $425,000 for the Foundation. At the event, Jack Johnson and Perry Farrell were awarded Surfrider Foundation’s Keepers of the Coast award. ‘The event exceeded our expectations, both as a fundraiser and as a celebration of this important milestone in our organization’s history,’ said Christopher Evans, Executive Director for the Surfrider Foundation. Read Surfrider Foundation’s pre-event press release at http://beach.com/surfrider/press_releases_index.asp and see event photos and descriptions of auctioned surfboards at http://www.surfrider.org/20th.
