The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) will once again have its annual Waterman’s Weekend this coming August 10-12 at the Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel, CA. Now in its 23rd year, the event has served as the main fundraising source for the SIMA Environmental Fund.
This year, the Waterman’s Ball will honor big wave surfer Shane Dorian as Waterman of the Year, world renowned ocean explorer, filmmaker, television personality and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau as Environmentalist of the Year, and revolutionary wave forecaster and surfing Hall of Famer the late Sean Collins with the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Waterman’s Weekend is a two-day fundraising event held each August that exclusively benefits the SIMA Environmental Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that awards grants to various environmental groups based on their dedication to preserving and protecting the world’s oceans, beaches and waves. The weekend event begins Friday, August 10, with the Waterman’s Classic Golf Tournament at the Monarch Beach Golf Links, featuring a lively day on the links, a surf contest, and live and silent auctions, and culminates with the main event on Saturday, August 11, the 23rd annual Waterman’s Ball and auction to be held at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, CA. The ball not only allows the surf industry and friends of the environment to raise money for important oceanic causes, but also honor and celebrate those making significant contributions in the industry with the prestigious annual Waterman of the Year, Environmentalist of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards.
Last year’s events attracted more than 700 people and raised more than $400,000 for 20 ocean conservation groups. Here is the list of the 2012 SIMA Environmental Fund grant recipients:
Alaska Wilderness League
Algalita Marine Research Foundation
Assateague Coastal Trust
Cook Inletkeeper
Heal the Bay
KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance
North Shore Community Land Trust (NSCLT)
Ocean Defenders Alliance
Ocean Institute
Orange County CoastKeeper
Paso Pacifico
Reef Check
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
Santa Monica Baykeeper
Save the Waves Coalition
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
SINADES – Natural Systems and Development Civil Association
Surfing Education Association
Surfrider Foundation
WiLDCOAST
Each organization was chosen by the SIMA Environmental Fund Board of Directors based on their commitment of funds to specific projects that will protect and preserve oceans, beaches and/or surf breaks.
For more information on the event and the grant recipients, go to http://www.sima.com/watermans.aspx
