Press Release:
SIMA to Kick Off Humanitarian Fund Redesign with Stokes Me Surf Contest During Surf Expo
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (August 20, 2012) — On September 7, the Stokes Me Surf Contest will throw surfers and the surf industry into the deep end of the Typhoon Lagoon wave pool in Orlando, Fla., to raise money for the SIMA Humanitarian Fund.
Robert “Wingnut” Weaver, Alek Parker and Asher Nolan and other notable shredders will all be on hand to surf alongside their industry counterparts as brands battle it out. This chlorinated surf contest is a precursor to the Stokes Me Challenge, a 30-day fundraising campaign taking place this October. Entry fees from the Surf Contest will go directly to a brand’s overall Stokes Me Challenge fundraising tally.
“What stokes me is raising money for 10 very worthy surfing-related humanitarian organizations,” said Ross Garrett, SIMA Humanitarian Fund President and a Vice President at Surfline. “The Stokes Me campaign is all about fun, and this is going to be a great way to get it rolling.”
The $500 entry fee for a team of two buys one peak, split by the two teammates, and of the two surfers entered one must be an employee of the brand. For a better chance to win, brands can purchase more peaks.
Shredding is a plus, but antics, appearance, and general idiocy will also be rewarded as the judging panel will be heavily influenced by the 2,000+ person crowd, who will all be equipped with “Stokes Me” and “Bums Me” voting paddles.
As equalizers, entrants will pick from one of six provided soft surfboards, and pros will be on hand to surf as a stand-in. The winning team will receive a free table at the exclusive “No Agenda” dinner for retailers and manufacturers at Surf Expo January 2013.
The deadline to enter the Stokes Me Surf Contest is August 31, 2012. To register, please visit www.regonline.com/StokesMeChallenge. For questions, please contact SIMA Events & Communications Coordinator, Kelly Keenan, at Kelly@sima.com or 949.366.1164 x3. Or visit stokesME.org.
The Stokes Me campaign is the official fundraising event for the SIMA Humanitarian Fund. Since 2004, the SIMA Humanitarian Fund has donated more than $1.58 million to surf-related, non-profit humanitarian organizations. All proceeds from this year’s efforts will benefit 10 surf-related humanitarian non-profit organizations selected by the SIMA Humanitarian Fund Board of Directors for focusing on improving the quality of life, health and/or welfare of people. The 2012 Stokes Me beneficiaries include Best Day Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Jimmy Miller Foundation, Keep A Breast, Life Rolls On, Outdoor Outreach, Stoked Mentoring, SurfAid International, Surfers Healing and Waves for Water.
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 23 years, SIMA’s Environmental Fund has raised more than $6.2 million for environmental groups seeking to protect the world’s oceans, beaches andwaves. The SIMA Humanitarian Fund, also a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, was established in 2006 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.
