For the 16th consecutive summer, Couch Distributing has committed to help raise $10,000 in support of Surfrider Santa Cruz’s projects and campaigns through the annual Save Our Surf Program.
Started in 1996 by the local distributor of Anheuser-Busch beers and other beverages, the Save Our Surf program has raised more than $150,000 for Surfrider Santa Cruz (Couch pledges a nickel to the Santa Cruz Chapter of Surfrider Foundation for every case of Budweiser and Bud Light sold in Santa Cruz County between Memorial Day and Labor Day).
The money has been used to rent office space, improve the lab where Surfrider conducts its weekly water quality tests, support outreach to local schools, purchase storm-drain stencils and conduct monthly beach cleanups. Couch Distributing's support has also sponsored print advertising to inform the public of Surfrider’s activities, including:
Monthly Beach Clean-Ups
The first Saturday of the month (11 am to 1 pm), we walk a local beach and clean-up trash.
SHOW OF SUPPORT: In a sunset ceremony at the Walton Lighthouse at the mouth of the harbor, a check for $10,000 was presented to Surfrider. Participating were, from left, Kelly Vander Kaay and Dustin Macdonald of the Santa Cruz Chapter and Dave Chapatte and Louie Pieracci of Couch Distributing (photo Mike Wallace).
Ocean Friendly Gardens Program
We educate and assist people in creating landscapes that utilize native plants, permeable groundcovers and water retention features to prevent urban runoff, create wildlife habitat and design beautiful spaces.
Education Program
With visits to local schools, universities, and businesses, lesson plans for teachers — and through events like beach clean ups — we hope to inspire the next generation to get stoked about conserving our oceans.
Storm Drain Stenciling
To help prevent ocean pollution, we stencil local storm drains with the words “No Dumping Drains to Ocean”.
Weekly Water Quality Testing
Through our Blue Water Task Force Program, we identify problems with beach and coastal water pollution, raise public awareness and work to find and implement pollution solutions.
Campaigns
Rise Above Plastics works to eliminate the impacts of plastics in the marine environment by raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and by advocating for a reduction of single-use plastics and the recycling of all plastics.
For more information, see:
Couch Distributing's Save Our Surf Page
Ads in this week's Good Times (p. 13) and Metro Santa Cruz (p.8) - June 2, 2011
To volunteer with our chapter, contact us at:
phone: 831-476-7667
e-mail: activist@surfridersantacruz.org