Press Release:
SURF INDUSTRY RAISES MORE THAN $128,000 NET FOR HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS & HONORS SHANEY JO DARDEN
La Jolla, Calif. (September 20, 2011) – A sold-out crowd of more than 400 surf industry executives, surf stars, and VIPs gathered together on Saturday, September 17, at Liquid Nation Ball 8, the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) Humanitarian Fund’s annual fundraiser.
Over the past eight years, the SIMA Humanitarian Fund has raised more than $1.58 million dollars for global medical relief, urban youth outreach, injury prevention and assistance, and health education and awareness. The event honored Shaney jo Darden, Co-founder and CEO of Keep A Breast, as the 2011 SIMA Humanitarian of the Year, as well as raised a net amount of more than $128,000 which will all go directly to 13 very deserving surf-related humanitarian organizations.
“The event was a total success,” said Fernando Aguerre, Liquid Nation Ball co-founder and host.
“Tickets were sold out a couple days before the event. Shaney jo was so happy and excited, it was contagious. I just love her and her full time passion and energy. As it normally happens, having almost 500 people together for a good cause leaves a lot of good vibes behind. I’m blessed with so much support from guests from all walks of life. It fills my heart to see how people continue to care about coming together for a better world. Thanks to everybody that attended and donated time and items for the auction. As my grandma Lucia used to tell me, giving is the only way to a full life.”
As one of the surf industry’s hottest parties of the year, Liquid Nation Ball 8 boasted a guest list of pro surfers including: Jordy Smith, Brett Simpson, Tanner Gudauskas, Dane Gudauskas, former world champion Rabbit Bartholomew, Miguel Pupo, Adrian Buchan, Mitch Crews, Pat O’Connell, and more.
One of the highlights of the night was when Sal Masekela, ESPN X Games host, presented Shaney jo with the 2011 SIMA Humanitarian of the Year award. Greeted by a large and cheering crowd, Shaney jo accepted her award with immense humility and joy.
“It is such an incredible honor to receive this award as all night I have been totally floored with everyone’s love,” said Shaney jo as she accepted her award on stage. “I’d like to just really thank the action sports industry and many of you are here from many different companies tonight and this industry has been so, so, so good to Keep A Breast and me. This industry is so special and unique and you can all come together to support causes and efforts and make a huge difference on a global level.”
A deserving award recipient, Shaney jo is known for mixing her passion for the action sports industry, fashion design, fine art, and philanthropy, which naturally led her to co-found The Keep A Breast Foundation (KAB), a non-profit charity organization that raises funds and support for breast cancer awareness.
Taking plaster molds of women’s (and men’s) torsos, these casts are a trademark of the organization and are given to fine artists to paint, are shown in art exhibitions and then auctioned off with all proceeds going to KAB and other breast cancer awareness organizations. KAB is a unique foundation. With programs such as a Traveling Educational Booth hitting the road an average of 250 days a year to display at events such as The Roxy Jam, The Vans Warped Tour, and South by Southwest, Shaney jo can educate people face-to-face about breast cancer awareness.
As proof of her selfless attitude and conviction for the cause, Shaney jo has been honored with the Yoplait Champion Award as well as by the Alternative Press as one of the 25 most influential people in the music industry.
Traveling the globe to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer, Shaney jo’s dedicated efforts have led the charge in coining the famous, conversation-provoking phrase: “I love Boobies!” Shaney jo has exceled at her goal to bring a fresh approach to fundraising for breast cancer that is relevant and inspiring to today’s youth.
The event, held at the ocean-front home of Aguerre, where one of the world’s best private surfboard collections is located, also included a live auction of one-of-a-kind items, dancing, great food, an open bar and live music.
Always a highlight, the live auction featured items such as a private island dream trip for two to the exclusive Ninamu Resort in French Polynesia; a luxurious surf and yoga adventure for six to Nicaragua’s premiere surf zone; a one-of-a-kind 9’2” solid balsa board with redwood inlay shaped by Greg and Jed Noll and packaged with a limited edition “Da Bull” boardshorts from Billabong; and a surfboard tribute diorama of ten-time world champion Kelly Slater’s surboards by master modeler Malcolm Wilson.
See page 2 for more on the event and highest bid of the night…
The highest bid of the night of $16,000 went towards the once-in-a-lifetime Lakers game experience for four with NBA Legend/Hall of Famer Bill Walton. The winner will enjoy being picked up by Bill to be driven to dinner and the game, as well as hanging out in the locker room and meeting the celebrities and players at the game, all while getting the behind the scene scoop from Bill himself!
As has been the tradition for the past eight years, the bidding at Liquid Nation Ball 8 concluded with Aguerre auctioning off his pants – which this year were custom dyed, pink Loudmouth golf pants – which he sold for the sake of humanity. Aguerre’s pink outfit was a tribute to Keep A Breast and breast cancer awareness and included a custom painted Panama hat, pink 70’s flowered jacket, and hot pink canvas shoes.
In addition to the funds raised during the live auction, the proceeds from the Billabong Art of Shaping auction will go directly to Liquid Nation Ball’s 13 beneficiaries. The auction of one-of-a-kind surfboards will take place during the Sacred Craft trade show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on October 8, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.
As the fourth installment of the Billabong Art of Shaping auction, 24 surfboard shapers have been selected from the Los Angeles area to build gorgeous and iconic surfboards for public auction. For more information about the Billabong Art of Shaping, Los Angeles County Edition, please visit: https://sacredcraftexpo.com/art-of-shaping-los-angeles-county-edition.
Liquid Nation Ball was originally created by Santiago and Fernando Aguerre to support the humanitarian efforts of SurfAid. In 2006 the brothers donated the Ball to the SIMA Humanitarian Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. The Ball now serves as the official fundraising event for the SIMA Humanitarian Fund.
Since 2004, Liquid Nation Ball has donated more than $1.58 million to surf-related, non-profit humanitarian organizations. All proceeds from Liquid Nation Ball 8 will benefit 13 surf-related social and humanitarian non-profit organizations selected by the SIMA Humanitarian Fund Board of Directors for their efforts focusing on improving the quality of life, health and/or welfare of people.
The 2011 Liquid Nation Ball beneficiaries include Keep A Breast, Surfer’s Healing, Jimmy Miller Foundation, AccesSurf Hawaii, Mauli Ola Foundation, Best Day Foundation, Outdoor Outreach, Stoked Mentoring, Life Rolls On, SurfAid International, Sumba Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Waves for Water.
For more information about Liquid Nation Ball or to make a contribution to the SIMA Humanitarian Fund, please visit www.liquid-nation.com and click on the donate button.
For all press inquiries and photos of the event, please contact SIMA Communications Manager, Mandy Lausché, at mandy@sima.com or 949.366.1164 x7.
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 22 years, SIMA’s Environmental Fund has raised more than $5.8 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 to award grants to various surf or board sport related social and humanitarian non-profit organizations whose efforts are focused on improving the quality of life, health and/or welfare of people. Liquid Nation Ball serves as the annual fundraising event for the SIMA Humanitarian Fund, and since 2004 has raised and donated more than $1.58 million to surf-related non-profit humanitarian organizations. For more information regarding SIMA, please visit www.sima.com. Follow SIMA at Twitter.com/SIMA_Surf.
