With help from a cadre of surfing celebrities, the Surfrider Foundation was able to raise $29,600 – a 500% increase in funds raised from last year - at their 5th annual Celebrity Expression Session this past weekend, to help the Foundation continue its efforts towards protecting our world’s oceans, waves, and beaches.
This year’s event, which was hosted by musician Martyn Lenoble and fiancée, actress Christina Applegate, and sponsored by Barefoot Wine, Cali Bamboo, and the Malibu Surfing Association, drew an eclectic mix of celebrities from the world of music, film, and television.
The celebrities, which included Anthony Kiedis and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane’s Addiction’s bassist Eric Avery, and actors Austin Nichols, Brian Geraghty, Eric Balfour, and Sam Trammell, were all treated to a rare opportunity; the chance to surf Malibu’s famed First Point all by themselves.
For each wave caught and ridden, event sponsors donated $200. Additionally, away from the water, celebrities encouraged their social network followers to make donations to the Surfrider Foundation and raised an additional $4,600.
Here’s what the surfers had to say about the Celebrity Expression Session:
“Surfrider is bringing about the importance that we have clean and safe beaches not only for ourselves but for future generations. This is a gift we have been given and we need to maintain it, take care of it, and love it. I love the creatures that dwell in it. I’m really happy to be a part of this” – co-host Christina Applegate
“I’m thrilled to be here for the Surfrider Foundation for this Celebrity Expression Session. I recently got really, really angry about the oil spill in the Gulf and that is what got me going on this. I’m really happy to be a part of Surfrider and try to raise money for you guys.” – Austin Nichols
“Today was amazing. I got to hang out for an hour in the water surfing and having fun and supporting the Surfrider Foundation with some of the coolest artists around. I got to surf with Flea and Anthony Kiedis those guys are my heroes…my idols growing up. Surfrider made my day. And I’m just so happy to support what they do. And you should do. Go to surfrider.org become a member. Save the ocean.” – Eric Balfour