It all started when surf photographer Sean Brody first visited Liberia, West Africa, in September 2009 to help document an episode of Fuel TV’s “On Surfari.” He’d spent the last five years of his life pursuing his passion and living the dream… traveling the globe in search of exotic surf destinations, photographing the world’s most exciting waves, and working with some of the sport’s biggest names. However, during Brody’s journeys around the globe, he witnessed communities suffering from hunger, poverty, disease, and poor sanitation.

Finally, during his visit to Liberia, a nation devastated by years of civil war, Brody saw a true rude awakening. Brody knew he could no longer surf these waves simply as a tourist, stepping around poverty to get to the beach. He made a promise to his new friends in the community that he would return in a year… with a plan. With an aspiration to give back to the communities where we go for waves, the SURF RESOURCE NETWORK (www.surfresource.org) was born.

The Surf Resource Network recognizes high quality surf as a valuable natural resource, which can be leveraged to provide means for community development. Their mission is to support local economies by raising funds for their partner organizations, including those such as Walu International, Waves for Development, Strong Heart, and Surfrider Foundation.

The Surf Resource Network also facilitates the placement of volunteers within these organizations, fosters research and education, and develops sustainable projects to better the lives of individuals in the community.

The Surf Resource Network makes it easy for surfers to help local communities by providing a directory of “SRN approved” accommodations, service providers, and volunteer opportunities around the world, which give a percentage of profits back to community based projects.

For more information on how you can get involved, e-mail info@surfresource.org or call (858) 208-7533.