Despite the tragic effect the crashing economy has had on philanthropy, a glimmer of hope remains in the surfing world. For more than two-and-a-half decades, China Uemura has sought to give back to his native Honolulu through his annual longboard classic surf contest in Waikiki. Over the course of the event’s life, China has raised more than 200,000 for local charities. And despite seeing a dip in the amount of entries for this year’s event, China still managed to cut a check to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
“Since I started this event 26 years ago, I’ve been trying to give back to the community. When I was a pro, I was given a lot by a lot of people. And now I’m trying to give back,” says Uemura. “Over the years, I’ve given to a lot of different charities … Details
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Three guys, a cause, a canoe and a river.
That pretty much sums up the summer for Dave Kolck, Justin Dworak and Matt Bergmann, who have surrendered their personal lives for two months to raise both awareness and funds toward the historic oil spill along the Gulf Coast.
Kolck, 25, a resident of Dubuque, Iowa, is teaming with Bergmann, 26, and Dworak, 24, both of Galena, Ill., in navigating the Mississippi River from its headwaters through Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois to New Orleans. The three, who stopped in Quincy last week, are working in conjunction with the Louisiana-based, nonprofit Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper organization to draw as much attention as possible to one of the nation’s worst natural disasters  … Details
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South Burlington, Vermont – August 1, 2010
Six friends skateboarded 85 miles this weekend to raise money for cancer.
The teenagers rode their skateboards from Newport to Johnson Saturday. Sunday they completed the trek from Johnson to South Burlington. Along the way they collected donations to give to a cancer charity.
“Well it was really inspirational. I like to help people and raise money for cancer. My aunt died 9 years ago of cancer and I really wanted to do something about that,” said one of the boarders Tyler Robinson …Â Details
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Golden Age of Surfing Returns to Malibu: Mickey Munoz Helps Showcase ‘Old Skool’ Style July
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 20 July, 2010 : – – Old Skool Surfboards today announced a surfing demonstration at the famed surf break, Malibu, on Sunday, July 25. Surfboards spanning the 1930s through the 1960s will be ridden showcasing the heritage of surfing as it evolved in California.
Such surfboards as the cigar-box hollow paddleboards made famous by surf pioneer Tom Blake, balsawood “pig shape” boards from the early 1950s, early “foamies” from the late 1950s, through the signature era of the 1960s will be ridden at Malibu in conjunction with the Malibu Boardriders “Call to the Wall” surf contest. All proceeds from the event will benefit the “Ride-A-Wave” that enables children with special needs to enjoy days at the beach as well as the Ronald McDonald House that assists families with young children stricken with catastrophic life-threatening diseases … Details
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