Eric Hutchinson & Barefoot Wine joins Surfrider for 2010 Beach Cleanups

Barefoot Wine and Surfrider have teamed up again this year to host 20+ beach cleanup and restoration events. Afterwards, join them for a post-cleanup celebration - 4 of the cleanups will feature a "thank you" concert with Eric Hutchinson for volunteers, and Eric will help out at those 4 cleanups.



Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Events featuring Eric Hutchinson:
Rockaway Beach (New York, NY) --Saturday, June 12
Lady Bird Lake (Austin, TX) --Saturday, July 10
Willamette River (Portland, OR) --Saturday, August 7
North Miami Beach (Miami, FL) --Saturday, August 28


Additional Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project Events:
Pacific Beach (San Diego) -- Saturday, June 26
Chattahoochee River Park (Atlanta) --Saturday, July 10
Folly Beach (Charleston, SC) -- Saturday, July 10
Boston, MA --Saturday, July 24
Corpus Christi, TX -- Saturday, July 31
New Haven, CT -- Saturday, July 31
Alki Beach (Seattle, WA) --Saturday, August 7
Lake Harriet (Minneapolis, MN) -- Saturday, August 7
Hampton Beach (Portsmouth) -- Saturday, August 7
Ala Moana Beach (Honolulu) --Saturday, August 14
Venice Beach (Los Angeles) --Saturday, August 14
Old Orchard Beach (Portland, ME) --Saturday, August 14
Cocoa Beach, FL --Saturday, August 21
Newport, RI --Saturday, September 11

TO RSVP for a cleanup go here.

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.

* * *

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.

YAY Surfrider & Mason Jennings!

Barefoot Wine & Surfrider Foundation - partner again in 2009

photo: Mason Jennings, singer/songwriter who’s donating proceeds from his single “Sunlight” to the Surfrider Foundation.

The Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project, now in its third year, makes beaches and lakes across America “barefoot friendly.” In celebration of Surfrider Foundation’s 25th Anniversary, Barefoot Wine, Surfrider Foundation and community volunteers are embarking on a tour of 25 cleanups nationwide, stopping in Huntington Beach, California for a big party.


2009 Barefoot Wines Beach Cleanups featuring Mason Jennings:
Huntington Beach, CA Saturday, June 13
Tampa, FL Saturday, July 11
Chicago, IL Saturday, July 25
Seattle, WA Saturday, August 15

More details about the cleanups here.

Following the June 13, 2009 9-11am cleanup, volunteers 21+ are invited to attend a free open-to-the-public celebration at the brand new Shorebreak Hotel, located at Bolsa Chica State Beach 500 Pacific Coast Highway, Tower 21, Huntington Beach, CA - featuring Barefoot wines, surf-inspired fare and a live musical performance from Mason Jennings, from 6-8pm.

Go to the Barefoot Wine website to create a profile so that you can help Barefoot Wine pick a grand prize winner -

Each campaign will receive $5,000 from Barefoot Wine, and the one with the most votes will receive an additional $5,000!

Hint - vote for Gaviota Coast!! You can vote once per day through August 15th (voting is reset at midnight EST.)


Campaign: Clear the Path – Beach Access - Oahu Chapter, Hawaii

Through this campaign the Chapter is pushing for better beach access through public education and legislation. With continued construction and development all over the island, shoreline access is at risk. In addition to the Clear the Path campaign, the chapter helped form the Shoreline Access Coalition of Hawaii, a collaborative group of organizations focused on improving shoreline access around the state.
Image depicting beach filling


Campaign: Challenge Beach Management Permitting Practices: Stop Harmful Beach Fill Projects - Palm Beach County Chapter, Florida

After successfully challenging a dredge-and-fill project permit under the “Reach 8” campaign, the chapter is addressing future beach fill projects. Beach filling is an act of “beach management” that does more harm than good to our coastlines by disrupting their naturally self-sustaining environments. Chapter focus is on 1) greater public outreach and education regarding the importance and fragility of the beach ecosystem and how it is threatened by these beach fill projects and 2) an improved permitting process for beach fill projects, one that is not dictated by the beach dredging lobby and incorporates an ecosystem-based management approach to permitting these projects, as opposed to the piecemeal permitting scheme now in place.


Campaign: Save Gaviota: Preserve the Gaviota Coast From Development - Santa Barbara Chapter, Californi

The Gaviota Coast is the last undeveloped stretch of coastline in southern California that is facing an increasing threat of development. It is a rich and vital natural resource that should be preserved and protected for future generations to enjoy, but there are presently more than a dozen development projects being planned, the most significant of which (known as Naples) would permit 72 luxury homes, which would average 8,000 square feet in size. Since its inception, the Surfrider Foundation Santa Barbara Chapter has been a leader in local efforts to halt and/or limit further development of the Gaviota Coast.


Campaign: Sink the Breakwater – Restore the Shore
Surfrider Foundation Long Beach Chapter, California

The Surfrider Foundation Long Beach Chapter has been working for over a decade on their “Sink the Breakwater – Restore the Shore” campaign. The goal is to reconfigure the Long Beach Breakwater, which will restore the natural flow of ocean currents in Long Beach Harbor, improve water quality and bring back waves to Long Beach.

Style that makes a Difference -- shoes

Shoes that Make a Difference -- three cause marketing examples:



PHOTO: Hunter PR
You could be sporting these autographed Jack Johnson flip flops if you win!

Barefoot Wine Beach
Rescue Project Charity Auction
From December 2 - 12, 2008, visit: www.eBay.com/BarefootWine to bid on shoes previously owned, and kicked off by your favorite eco-minded celebrities: Andrew Keegan, Cameron Diaz, G. Love, Lisa Anderson, Matt Costa, Nick Hexum, Matthew McConaughey, Sal Masekela, Jack Johnson, Sophia Bush, Kelly Slater, and Tristan Prettyman.

All proceeds from this auction will benefit the Surfrider Foundation.

The Shoes for our Shores charity auction is a step towards improving the state of our coastlines,” said Matt McClain of the Surfrider Foundation. “We’re stoked and grateful to see some of our long-time celebrity supporters kicking off their shoes and going ‘barefoot’ for the Surfrider Foundation.”

For additional information, contact:
Marieke Bianchi, Hunter PR
212-679-6600 x249
mbianchi@hunterpr.com






TOMS Shoes, Paste Magazine and Brett Dennen are giving fans a reason to say “thanks” this Thanksgiving.

One (1) Grand Prize winner will win a prize pack including a pair of TOMS Shoes designed by Brett Dennen, Brett’s new album, and a year-long subscription to Paste.
(4) Runners-up will also win prize packs including:
- an exclusive pair of TOMS shoes autographed by Brett Dennen
- a copy of Brett’s new CD Hope for the Hopeless
- Yearlong subscription to Paste
You can enter the contest here.

For more info about the amazing TOMS Shoes, founded by young entrepeneur Blake Mycoskie, check out this video:



While we are on the subject of Brett Dennen and shoes, in 2007 Brett toured with Guster on the Crocs’ Next Step Campus Tour. The tour promoted eco-friendly green initiatives while educating attendees on ways to help the environment. The tour stopped at fifteen colleges, including Gonzaga University, the College of William and Mary, North Carolina State University, Michigan State University, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Vermont, the University of Florida, Furman University, Georgia Southern University, Murray State University, Vanderbilt University, Indiana University, and Williams College.

I just read about SolesUnited, Crocs' cause marketing campaign -- consumers drop their old Crocs off at an authorized donation center, where they are shipped to SolesUnited. SolesUnited grinds them up (along with rubber scraps from the manufacturing process) and makes brand new shoes. These shoes are given to people who need them.

An explanation of the program, from Crocs:



In this video, SolesUnited, the Houston Rockets and Feed the Children deliver Crocs shoes and boxes of food to Hurricane Ike victims.

Surfrider & Cause Marketing

I love that Surfrider receives so much support from the industry. My favorite cause marketing project is the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project, but the Surfrider Holiday Gift Guide is pretty cool, too:) Purchase these goods, and the companies will donate part of the proceeds to Surfrider.

* 100% cotton Boardshorts from Quiksilver.

* Surf film "Out There" from Teton Gravity Research.

* Hemp/bamboo/charcoal shoes from Vans.

* Refillable Rise Above Plastics waterbottle from Klean Kanteen.

* Rise Above Plastics SIGG bottle, tote bag, and CD from Jack Johnson.

* Assorted apparel from Billabong, Reef, O’Neill, Electric Visual, DaKine and Nixon, available for purchase from Project BLUE.

* Book "Surfing: The Manual" by Jim Kempton.

source: Surfrider SOUP e-newsletter.

In 2007 & 2008, Barefoot Wine and Surfrider held beach clean ups in several cities. Brett Dennen, John Butler of the John Butler Trio, and Tristan Prettyman performed at the clean ups, and also helped pick up trash.

According to Rock the Earth's 12/2007 e-newsletter, John and Brett spent 2 hours helping volunteers clean up San Francisco's Ocean Beach, before playing a show on the beach for the 250 volunteers who showed up to pick up trash. The day's events wrapped up with a raffle of great donated prizes including a Rock the Earth poster signed by both artists, boxes of CLIF bars, Surfrider gear, and tickets to the John Butler Trio show later that night at the Warfield. See the John Butler video below.

I love this cause marketing project!!! And stay tuned - the Barefoot Wine beach clean ups with Surfrider is an annual event:)

UPDATE: from Alexis Henry, Surfrider Communications Manager:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CELEBRITIES KICK OFF THEIR SHOES TO HELP AMERICA’S SHORES

Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue ProjectTM Hosts Online Shoe Auction To Benefit The Surfrider Foundation


MODESTO, Calif. (DECEMBER 3, 2008) – As the holiday season approaches, what better time to put your best foot forward and give back to the causes and organizations you care about? The Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project is hosting an online charity auction of shoes belonging to beach-loving celebrities in an effort to raise awareness and generate funds to support the Surfrider Foundation— a grassroots, not-for-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches.

To create the collection, Barefoot Wine asked actors, athletes and musicians to help “heel” America’s beaches by kicking off their shoes and donating them in support of more “barefoot-friendly” beaches. Notable surfing enthusiasts going barefoot for the cause include: actors Matthew McConaughey, Cameron Diaz, Sophia Bush and Andrew Keegan, athletes Kelly Slater and Lisa Andersen, Host of E!’s Daily Ten and the X-Games Sal Masekela and musicians Jack Johnson, G. Love (of G. Love and Special Sauce), Matt Costa, Nick Hexum (of 311) and Tristan Prettyman.

The autographed shoes will be listed on eBay’s Giving Works, which empowers people to buy and sell for a cause. The charity auction will begin at 4:00pm PST on Tuesday, December 2 and end on Friday, December 12. Visit www.eBay.com/BarefootWine to view the collection of shoes and place your bids.

“Barefoot Wine is committed to helping make beaches ‘barefoot-friendly’ though the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project,” said Jeremy Soine for Barefoot Wine. “We’re donating 100% of the proceeds from this charity auction to support the Surfrider Foundation’s ongoing efforts to keep our world’s beaches healthy for generations to come.”

“This charity auction is an additional step towards improving the state of our coastlines,” said Matt McClain, Director of Marketing and Communications for Surfrider Foundation. “We’re stoked and grateful to see some of our long-time celebrity supporters kicking off their shoes and going ‘barefoot’ for the Surfrider Foundation.”

Barefoot, the award-winning California wine, has been an active supporter of various not-for-profit organizations for over 20 years. Since its inauguration in 2007, the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project has donated $250,000 to the Surfrider Foundation in support of its mission to improve coastal water quality, promote free and open beach access, preserve coastal ecosystems and protect public beaches around the world.

Barefoot’s award-winning California wines are attractively priced and can be found in playful, colorful cases and bottles bearing the iconic footprint label. Barefoot’s still wine portfolio ($7 for 750-ml bottles, $12 for 1.5-liter bottles) includes nine unique offerings: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, White Zinfandel, NEW Moscato, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Zinfandel. Barefoot also offers five delicious sparkling wines: Barefoot Bubbly Brut Cuvée, Barefoot Bubbly Premium Extra Dry and the NEW Barefoot Bubbly Pinot Grigio Champagne, Barefoot Bubbly Chardonnay Champagne and Barefoot Bubbly White Zinfandel Champagne. All of these award-winning sparkling wines retail for $10. For more information about Barefoot Wine, visit www.barefootwine.com .

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit 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. For more information on the Surfrider Foundation, go to www.surfrider.org .