Surfrider Beach Cleanups Gain Support from Musicians

photo: Stefan Lessard. By Donna Wolf.

On Friday, September 11, 2009, the San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation hosted a special beach cleanup from 4-6pm at Veterans Park in Ocean Beach, San Diego. This cleanup was a part of the national day of service and remembrance that President Obama signed into law in April.

This cleanup was special because the Dave Matthews Band’s bass player, Stefan Lessard, participated in the cleanup and organized a contest - beach cleanup volunteers could enter to win tickets to the Dave Matthews Band concert happening the following day at Cricket Amphitheater.


photo by Bill Hickman.

"The Surfrider Foundation is excited to work with Stefan Lessard and to help raise awareness about the effects of beach litter. Over 80% of marine debris is land-based,” said Bill Hickman of the San Diego Surfrider Foundation. “So, if we can stop litter at the source we can help protect the oceans and all of the marine life that we love.”

According to Jon, one of the beach cleanup participants, "more than 150 volunteers showed up and picked up more than 150lbs of trash off our shore line (mostly cigarette butts and wrappers). I’ve never seen the cliffs and our beach so clean!"


photo by Bill Hickman.

Check out this awesome review of the day's events, prepared by Bill Hickman.

Surfrider Foundation Beach Cleanup with Stefan Lessard from Surfrider Foundation San Diego C on Vimeo.

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A month prior to this, and on the opposite side of the country, Barefoot Wines presented a Beach Rescue Concert to benefit the Surfrider Foundation.

From 2-4pm on Saturday, August 29, 2009 in Asbury Park, NJ Sufrider and Barefoot Wines hosted a beach cleanup at three different locations near the Asbury Park boardwalk.

Beach cleanup volunteers received VIP privileges (entry to the VIP Lounge, complimentary food and beverage and priority views of the stage) to a free concert featuring Joss Stone, Gavin DeGraw, Cold War Kids and Mason Jennings that followed the cleanup at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. All wine sale proceeds from the concert were donated to Surfrider.

Fan outreach and on-site concert greening was handled by Reverb. Reverb is a non-profit that educates and engages musicians and their fans to take action toward a more sustainable future.