Community

SHOW OF SUPPORT: In a sunset ceremony at the Walton Lighthouse at the mouth of the harbor, this year's $10,000 check was presented to Surfrider. Participating were, from left, Kelly V. Kaay and Dustin Macdonald of the Santa Cruz Chapter and Dave Chapatte and Louie Pieracci of Couch Distributing.

Save Our Surf

Working to protect our beautiful coast!

Since 1996, Couch Distributing has been involved in a strong and growing partnership with Surfrider Santa Cruz.

The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide. The Santa Cruz Chapter is operated entirely by volunteers with no paid staff. For more information, please see www.surfridersantacruz.org

Out of concern for our beaches and coastline, Couch developed a unique support campaign called Save Our Surf (SOS), which has contributed over $130,000 to the local chapter over the past 13 years.

The Save Our Surf campaign begins Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day.

During that time, Couch Distributing pledges a percentage of sales of Budweiser and Bud Light to Surfrider Santa Cruz. The campaign has raised at least $10,000 each year, which comprises a significant portion of the group's budget.

Thanks to the ongoing support from Save Our Surf, Surfrider Santa Cruz has able to send educational programs into local schools. As part of this outreach, Educational Program Leader Gina Cavuoto talks to students of all ages about environmental issues and coastal protection.

The Santa Cruz chapter also conducts an aggressive monthly beach clean-up program. In 2008 the chapter augmented its Fourth of July cleanup by doing an educational campaign beforehand and also did a cleanup in the Moss Landing-Elkhorn Slough area.

"The support we have received from Couch Distributing over the years has given us the financial confidence to start and continue environmental activities and programs," said Surfrider Santa Cruz spokesman Gary Pezzi. "We are all very grateful that Couch Distributing has continued the Save Our Surf campaign. They have once again proven themselves community leaders in protecting the near-shore environment."

Over the years, the funds generated by Save Our Surf have supported Surfrider Santa Cruz efforts in many other ways, including:

Water Testing - Surfrider Santa Cruz Blue Water Task Force conducts weekly water quality tests at local beaches, measuring the results at its new office/lab complex and disseminating the findings via its web site. Support from Save Our Surf was instrumental in giving Surfrider the financial basis to maintain a permanent office.

Public Information - Surfrider Santa Cruz public information efforts range from maintaining its Web Site to setting up information booths at environmental events, to a storm drain stenciling program, which warns against dumping waste that will drain to the ocean.

Scholarships - Surfrider Santa Cruz offers scholarships to students at local colleges who are majoring in environmental areas of study.

Collaborating with Other Groups - In furtherance of its mission, Surfrider Santa Cruz has worked with and supported many like-minded groups, including Monterey Bay Trout and Salmon Project, San Lorenzo River Project, North Coast Surf Press, Women on Waves, Save the Waves Coalition, Ocean Revolution, Aquatic Protection Agency, Clean Beaches Coalition and Surfers Environmental Alliance.

Public/Private Partnerships - Surfrider Santa Cruz has been furthering the cause of a healthy environment by working proactively with local public agencies to help keep oceans and beaches clean and safe for surfers and the general public.

Budweiser, Bud Light and Couch Distributing are proud to be a corporate sponsor of Surfrider Santa Cruz and its efforts because we believe that a healthy coast is important to all the communities we serve in the Monterey Bay area.

SURF SUPPORTERS: Members of the band The Expendables turned up at the Surfrider table at the beach by the Yacht Harbor during International Surf Day. Band members are Adam Patterson and Raul Bianchi (kneeling, left front), Geoff Weers (standing in front of surfboard) and Ryan DeMars (standing far right). Surfrider volunteers are, from left, Christine Cavell, Ashleigh Lyman, Jen Raynes, Eric Russell, and Anne Furguson.

STANDING UP FOR CLEAN WATER: Members and supporters of the Surfrider Foundation, Santa Cruz Chapter, pose with their boards Sep. 9, 2006, before paddling out into Monterey Bay to celebrate Clean Water Day, which marks passage of the federal Clean Water Act.

GETTING OUT THE WORD: Volunteers from the local chapter did public outreach from a booth at Surfrider Day in Capitola, one of many such informational efforts over the course of a year. From left are Dustin Macdonald, chapter chair; Amy Gunzelmann, past education project leader; and Sean Van Sommeran, storm drain stenciling leader (holding stencil).

Surf Responsibly. Drink Responsibly. Recycle.