SIMA (Surf Industry Manufacturers Association) Humanitarian Fund has announced the campaign ambassadors, including professional surfers and musicians, for The Float Collective, the association’s new humanitarian effort. The Float Collective will feature a unique collection of products from member brands, on sale through various surf retailers in June 2017, with proceeds benefitting 14 humanitarian organizations.
The ambassadors will work in coordination with the Float Collective Committee and participating brands to promote and endorse the Float Collective building awareness of the initiative’s exclusive bracelet and product capsule, as well as the beneficiaries of the SIMA Humanitarian Fund.
The Float Collective ambassadors include:
- Alana Blanchard – A Kauai-based pro surfer and model, Alana has been surfing her way around the world since she was nine years old.
- Jack Freestone – This young Aussie surfing star recently made headlines thanks to his round-three upset of 11-time world champion Kelly Slater at the World Surf League’s Margaret River Pro.
- Conner Coffin – Trained on the waves of Rincon, close to his home in Santa Barbara, California, Conner is a WSL World Tour member who’s been making waves of his own lately.
- Kanoa Igarashi – A Japanese-American surfing prodigy hailing from Huntington Beach, CA, Kanoa is a sophomore on the WSL Men’s Championship Tour and shining on the big stage.
- Kala Alexander – A famed big wave surfer, actor and philanthropist, Kala may be familiar to those less versed in the surfing world, thanks to roles in films and TV shows, such as Hawaii Five-O and Blue Crush.
- Sage Erickson – One of surfing’s highest profile female athletes, the California-native is on the WSL Women’s Championship Tour and thriving at the next level.
- Taylor Knox – One of the greatest power surfers of all time and a member of the Momentum Generation, Taylor is still admired for his ability in the water and his character on land.
- Miguel Pupo – A Brazilian professional surfer, Miguel has competed in the WSL’s Men’s World Championship Tour since 2011.
- Switchfoot – An American alternative rock band from San Diego, CA, Switchfoot – as their name suggests – has deep ties to the surfing community.
“I couldn’t be happier with the caliber of athletes and individuals who have come on board to support the Float Collective as ambassadors,” said Dylan Slater, president of the SIMA Humanitarian Fund Board of Directors. “Our ambassadors come from diverse backgrounds and all have different stories. However, they all believe in what we’re trying to achieve. They will be instrumental in spreading the word about the Float Collective’s mission to unite the industry to ultimately help those in need.”
Campaign content from ambassadors, as well as participating brands and retail partners, will be supported across social media and by select endemic and lifestyle media partners, including: BUST, Eastern Surf Magazine, Gear Patrol, Herewith, The Red Bulletin, Refinery29, Stay Wild, Surfer Magazine, Surfline, The Inertia, Transworld Business and Yoga Journal.
For information on the initiative and Float Collective products, please visit simafloatcollective.com.
About SIMA
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is the official working trade association of more than 300 surf industry suppliers. Founded in 1989, SIMA is a non-profit organization that serves to promote awareness of the surf industry and participation in the sport of surfing through public relations efforts and a variety of services, educational programs and research. In addition, SIMA actively supports oceanic environmental efforts through its 501(c)(3) charitable environmental foundation, the SIMA Environmental Fund. In the past 26 years, SIMA’s Environmental Fund has raised more than $7 million for environmental groups seeking to protect the world’s oceans, beaches and waves. The SIMA Humanitarian Fund, also a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, was established in to award grants to various surf or boardsport related social and humanitarian non-profit organizations whose efforts are focused on improving the quality of life, health and/or welfare of people. Since 2004 the SIMA Humanitarian Fund has raised and donated more than $1.7 million to surf-related non-profit organizations. For more information regarding SIMA, please visit www.sima.com.
