Surfrider Foundation

Surfrider Foundation

Founded	1984
Focus	Environmental
Area served	International
Members	50,000+
Key people	Chad Nelsen, CEO
Revenue	$6.1 million[1]
Website	surfrider.org

The Surfrider Foundation USA is a U.S. 501(c)(3) grassroots non-profit environmental organization that works to protect and preserve the world's oceans, waves and beaches. The Surfrider Foundation largely focuses its work on such issues as water quality, beach access, beach and surf spot preservation, and sustaining marine and coastal ecosystems.

Headquartered in San Clemente, California, the Surfrider Foundation maintains a small staff, which work to support the organization's network of grassroots chapters.

The current CEO is Chad Nelsen.^[2]

Mission statement

The protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.^[3]

History

The Surfrider Foundation was started in Malibu, California in 1984 by a handful of surfers to protest threats to their local surf break at Malibu Point. The organization continued on for several years as a loose advocacy group until 1991, when the first chapters were founded. At that point the Surfrider Foundation transitioned into a grassroots activist organization. Today the Surfrider Foundation maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide.

Programs

Surfrider Foundation volunteers and staff utilize a number of programs in their efforts to protect the coast and raise awareness of environmental issues.

• Respect the Beach - A coastal education program to inform students
• State of the Beach - A continuously updated report published by the Surfrider Foundation that evaluates coastal environments by a number of "Beach Health Indicators"
• Blue Water Task Force - An all-volunteer led monitoring program that tests and reports on coastal water quality.
• Ocean Friendly Gardens - An outreach program designed to reduce urban runoff and residential water consumption.
• Rise Above Plastics - An educational program designed to raise awareness of and reduce the amount of plastic pollution in our marine environments.
• Know Your H2O A program designed to educate people on the link between freshwater management issues and the impact on our oceans, waves, and beaches, that advocates for practical and environmentally sound solutions.
• Beachapedia A wiki-based coastal information resource drawing on expertise of Surfrider Foundation experts and activists.

Events

Surfrider Oahu Chapter hosts the annual John Kelly Environmental Awards in Waimea Valley on the North Shore of Oahu every year in November to coincide with the surf season kick-off, aka the Vans Triple Crown. Awards are dedicated to those who "have helped protect and enhance our coastal community and environment". Three awards are given each year; Lifetime achievement Award, Oahu-based Organization Award and Professional Surfer Award.^[4]

Lifetime Achievement Cora Sanchez Mark Cunningham[5] Yvon Chouinard Shaun Tomson Randy Rarick Peter Cole Larry McElheny George Downing John Kelly

Oahu-Based Company Kona Brewing Company Honolulu Weekly Bill Braden Styrophobia Pacific Biodiesel Schnitzer Steel Jack Johnson/Brushfire Records Patagonia - Haleiwa Oceanit

Professional Surfer Kyle Thiermann Duane DeSoto[6] The Malloy Brothers (Keith, Dan & Chris) Dave Rastovich James Pribram Pancho Sullivan Rochelle Ballard Kelly Slater Rob Machado

Chapters

There are 70 Surfrider chapters located along the US East, West, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaiian and Puerto Rico coasts.^[7]

US West Coast Crescent City Humboldt Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Isla Vista Long Beach Marin County Mendocino County Monterey Newport Beach San Diego County San Francisco San Luis Obispo San Mateo County Santa Barbara County Santa Cruz Sonoma Coast South Bay, Los Angeles South Orange County Ventura County West Los Angeles / Malibu Newport Oregon Portland Oregon Siuslaw Northwest Straits Olympic Peninsula Seattle South Coast South Sound Washington

US Islands (Hawaii and Puerto Rico) Kauai Kona (Big Island) Maui Oahu Rincon (Puerto Rico) US Gulf Coast Emerald Coast Suncoast Central Texas Galveston South Texas Texas Coastal Bend Texas Upper Coast Great Lakes Chicago Lake Michigan Minnesota-Lake Superior International Argentina International Affiliate Surfrider Europe Pacific Rim South Island Vancouver Australia Brasil Japan

US East Coast Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Broward County Central Florida Cocoa Beach First Coast Miami Palm Beach County Sebastian Inlet Treasure Coast Volusia/Flagler County, Florida Atlanta Coastal Georgia/Low Country Massachusetts Ocean City, MD Northern New England Cape Fear Outer Banks New Hampshire Jersey Shore South Jersey Central Long Island Eastern Long Island New York City Rhode Island Charleston, South Carolina Grand Strand/Myrtle Beach Virginia Beach

Notable members and supporters

• Jeff Bridges, actor^[8]
• Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia^[8]
• Woody Harrelson, actor^[8]
• Gregory Harrison actor^[8]
• Mark Hoppus, musician^[9]
• Bruce Johnston, musician^[8]
• Jason Mraz, musician
• Tristan Prettyman, musician^[10]
• Eddie Vedder, musician^[8]

References

1. "Form 990" (PDF). December 31, 2007. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
2. http://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/meet-surfriders-new-ceo-chad-nelsen
3. Mission Statement
4. Annual John Kelly Environmental Achievement Awards | Surfrider Oahu
5. Legendary Surfers: Legendary Surfer: Mark Cunningham
6. Duane DeSoto Wins Oxbow ASP World Longboard Championship At Makaha
7. Surfrider Foundation - Main Chapters Page
8. "Advisory Board". The Surfrider Foundation web site. The Surfrider Foundation. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
9. "Musician, Producer and Scuba Diver: Blink-182's bassist Mark Hoppus tells us about his connection to our ocean". Making Waves: 9–10. February 2010.
10. "5 Questions with Tristan Prettyman". Making Waves (Surfrider Foundation) 29 (1): 28–29. February 2013.

External links

• Official website
• Official Facebook page
• Official Twitter page
• Know Your H2O program and The Cycle of Insanity Film