We would like to thank from the bottom of our hearts each and every one of our Volunteers, Sponsors, Partners, Members, Community Members, Leaders, and Supporters who have helped us to protect our coastline in Santa Cruz this year! We have built a tremendous amount momentum for 2014, and are looking forward to expanding our outreach and raising awareness exponentially as we head into the New Year. A huge thanks to our Core Members and Executive Committee, who have spent countless hours upon hours volunteering after their normal 9-5’s for a cause that we all love and cherish, our oceans, waves, and beaches. Don’t forget to join Surfrider or renew your membership, and we look forward to seeing you all in 2014! Check out some of the highlights of 2013 below!
Matt Kuhn and Sarah Mansergh
Chapter Co-Chairs
Surfrider Foundation
Santa Cruz Chapter
- For the 18th consecutive year Couch Distributing sponsored our 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 $180,000 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).
- Beach Clean Ups - Thank you to the 231 volunteers who joined us in 2013, removing 647 lbs of trash, 3,549 cigarette butts,221 lbs of recycling, and 19 needles from our beaches.
- Surfrider played a key role in the responses to the EIR on the Desal Plant proposed in Santa Cruz. The city is currently in a reset on the issue and will be examining other alternatives in a citizens committee.
- Presented at a forum hosted by Desal Alternatives on how non-profits can engage with government on water issues.
- We tabled theBig Stick Surfing Association Log Jam in April,at Pleasure Point and celebrated the 1st anniversary of the SCWSR. Surfrider collected a $1,000 check from Big Stick and thanked the club for their long-standing support of our chapter.
- Surfrider was tabled at the Santa Cruz Longboard Union's Memorial Weekend Invitational surf club contest at Steamer Lane.
- We celebrated International Surfing Day at Cowells Beach, along with an evening celebration at Patagonia.
- Collected 3,828 signatures urging City Council to help make measurable goals towards access for safe and clean beaches in Santa Cruz. Huge thanks Ken Collins and Dave T. from the SC City Council for making this a priority in the community.
- Our Blue Water Task Force has grown to be the largest throughout the Surfrider Foundation, collecting over 485 water tests through December in 2013. Testing over 20 beaches weekly helping raise awareness about the water quality at our local beaches.
- Our Blue Water Task force is also collaborating with the City of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, and Coastal Watershed Council to pool our data about San Lorenzo River water quality and look at next steps for addressing issues in the watershed; and have started testing for a year long project along the lower river.
- Co-sponsored the Salt of the Earth, with a screening of Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau, with Director Sam George presenting the film. The event raised money for The Aikau and Surfrider Foundations.
- Moe's Alley hosted 2 concerts for us-the Mermen and Dick Dale with a portion of the proceeds benefiting our Chapter.
- Participated in Hands Across the Sand, where Surfrider and Save our Shores gathered at Cowells Beach in solidarity with events around the country to raise awareness about the dangers of offshore drilling and call on leaders to end our oil dependence and move America into a clean energy future.
