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Welcome to Volume 2, Issue 4 of OnBoard, SurfAid International's eNewsletter. 


Earthquake Relief Effort Succeeds!
2007 Results: Members Only :)
Launch of Quiksilver SurfAid Community Health Training Centre
SurfAid Win Prestigious Global Humanitarian Award
SurfAid Wins Rare Mulago Foundation Grant
Schools Program Launches Throughout Australia and New Zealand

FCS Strings for Charity

Billabong Europe Does Design for Humanity for SurfAid!
Upcoming Events
Fundraising Highlights



Dr. Dave and Junaidi, one of the 100,000 beneficiaries of SurfAid's Programs in 2007

 

Earthquake Relief Effort Succeeds!
THANK YOU! On behalf of the people of the Mentawai Islands affected by the two massive earthquakes last September, thank you to all the SurfAid International donors that contributed to the emergency relief effort launched by SurfAid International.

With your contributions, SurfAid distributed food, shelter, water, and medical help in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF – Doctors Without Borders) Belgium to communities totaling 47,000 residents.

The International NGO Community including SurfAid donors stepped up beyond the immediate needs of the region. we have funding to continue to help the Mentawai people recover from this disaster. We are currently in discussion with the Bupati and Vice-Bupati of Mentawai (the most senior local government officials) regarding the communities’ requirements for both rebuilding and for future disaster mitigation and resilience projects.

+ For a full wrap-up please visit our web site at www.surfaidinternational.org/earthquakerelief.

 

2007 Results: Members Only :)
THANK YOU AGAIN! On behalf of the 100,000 beneficiaries of SurfAid’s programs, thank you to all of our donors, sponsors, and volunteers who contributed to our effort in 2007.

The results of your contributions will resonate for years to come and position SurfAid International to continue saving lives (with more to come!). A full wrap-up of last year is available in the 2007 Results Mailing.

+  Download the 2007 Results Mailing + Renew or Become
a 2008 Member



Mentawai Vice-Head Yudas Sabaggalet, Quiksilver's Bruce Raymond and SurfAid's Dr Dave Jenkins officially open the Community Health Training Centre.
Photo: Kirk Willcox/SAI
SurfAid International Launches Quiksilver SurfAid Community Health Training Centre
SurfAid International has opened the first stage of the Quiksilver SurfAid Community Health Training Centre at Katiet, in the Mentawai Islands, off Indonesia’s West Sumatran coast.

The centre, which has been generously funded by the Quiksilver Foundation, has been designed by leading organic agriculturalist, Brendan Hoare.

+  READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE

+  LEARN MORE ABOUT THE KATIET VILLAGE PROJECT

 


SurfAid International Wins Prestigious Global Humanitarian Award
Aid organization SurfAid International has received the World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (WANGO) 2007 Humanitarian Award at the World Congress of NGOs awards ceremony in Toronto, Canada.

The award recognizes SurfAid as one of the best non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the world, a testament to their groundbreaking and effective approach to providing aid.

+  READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE


 

SurfAid Wins Mulago Grant
As a testimony to our continue commitment to achieving lasting changes and growing our number of beneficiaries, SurfAid has recently been awarded a rare $100,000 grant from the Mulago Foundation.

After a rigorous review of SurfAid’s program model, recent results, and future vision, the foundation selected SurfAid as one of a select few recipients of this grant.

Kevin Starr, of the Mulago Foundation (and the Rainer Fellowship), "The Mulago Foundation is investing in SurfAid because they are applying a proven and hugely cost-effective solution - making mothers the frontline providers in the fight against disease - in the kinds of remote settings that are too often neglected in global efforts. Moreover, they closely monitor their execution of the idea and rigorously measure the outcome to ensure that successful efforts can be scaled up to multiply manyfold the lives saved and suffering prevented."

 

Schools Program Launches Throughout Australia and New Zealand
The SurfAid International Schools Program, sponsored by Billabong, is expanding throughout Australia and New Zealand after a successful launch in NSW last year.

SurfAid is inviting schools to get involved in this exciting program, which provides an opportunity for students to learn about the geography, economy, culture, health and living conditions of the 70,000 people of the Mentawai Island region, off the coast of West Sumatra, Indonesia.

+ Read more

 

FCS Strings for Charity
The FCS strings for charity are a high quality functional leash string of which 100% of FCS profits go to SurfAid.

Available at Surf Shops or follow this link for More Info

Special Thanks to:

 

 

Billabong's Design For Humanity Europe benefits SurfAid!
On November 8th 2007 Billabong Europe launched their first DFH event in Paris bringing together the surf industry and media from across Europe to introduce the Billabong Girls Summer 2008 Collection, the DFH movement and the work of SurfAid International.

SurfAid International was incredibly fortunate to be chosen once again by Billabong Girls as the charity of choice for their Design For Humanity (DFH) division.

+  Read More

 

Upcoming Events:

Jack Johnson Concerts

SurfAid has been chosen as the preferred charity for the forthcoming Jack Johnson concert in Napier 22 March and New Plymouth 23 March. People who donate to SurfAid by registering at the concert or direct to nz@surfaidinternational.org can in effect double their donation dollars by supporting Jack Johnsons' social action network, All At Once. Lucky SurfAid donors this February won tickets to the Napier concert.

NZ Residents: SurfAid New Zealand is also running a phone donation program. By texting the word "aid" to number 469, an automatic $3 donation is given to SurfAid. Give it a go and read the auto-reply!

Waves of Relief

"Gerringong's Wave of Relief" is a music trivia night that has been run by local surfers Ian Gilbertson, Andrew Heffernan, Glenn Isemonger and Bruce Wallace for the last four years. Initially organized to raise funds for the tsunami ravaged Mentawi and Nias regions, this year's event will be held on Saturday May 5th, 2008 starting at 7:00pm at Gerringong town hall. The night features music from the '60s to the '90s, an air guitar competition, plenty of dancing and lots of auctions of items donated by the local community. The organizers hope to raise another $7000 for SurfAid to help the needy in the Mentawis and Nias.

Fundraising Highlights

 Thanks to the champion fundraisers at the Charlestown Christadelphian Chruch, who held a surf movie night February 15th at the Merewether Surf Lifesaving Club. The night included a screening of surf films, an auction of items provided by Billabong and the local community, live music, and an appearance by Lance Knight, who discussed his involvement with SurfAid. Over $2,000 was raised on SurfAid's behalf.

Thanks also to Ulladulla Boardriders Club, Barrenjoey High School (Music Room) who raised $1500 on SurfAid's behalf.

Special thanks to Lonely Planet, which gave $25000 in donations in support of SurfAid's programs in the Mentawai Islands.

David Hadi and the Ecclesia Mission Church in Sydney held a fundraiser which resulted in $5000 in donations to SurfAid.

Local radio station Bondi FM held a SurfAid fundraiser with the Bondi Beach Girls Surfrider Club, raffling off prizes donated by local surf shops, and raised over $1000 in donations. 

Thanks Jackson English and United World College of SE Asia

SurfAid International would like to convey huge thanks to Jackson English and the students of the United World College of South East Asia for their 24-Hour Swim Challenge to raise money for SurfAid International.

The swim is an annual event and this year was held on the last day of February running into the first day of March. Jackson is a champion paddleboarder from the Central Coast of NSW, Australia, who teaches at the Singapore college.

During the 24-hour period, more than 1000 people from the ages of six months to 87 years entered the college pool, swam as many laps as they could and had a good time while doing their best to raise funds.

While most swimmers swam over a few hours, there were 25 relay teams ranging from two to 10 people who swam the entire 24 hours. One Grade 11 student (aged 17) swam 35 kilometres during the 24-hour period.

Jackson and the school have raised more than $100,000 for SurfAid over the past two years and this event last year raised $60,000. Thank you very much to all the generous corporate and individual sponsors of this year’s swim – we’ll let you know the total when all the monies come through.

Thank you to Fuel TV, for airing our profile.

Thank you to Quiksilver, for featuring SurfAid's Kirk Willcox in the online webcast for the Quikkie Pro.

Thanks also to Billabong for their continued support of the SurfAid Schools Program.

As Always, Special Thanks to Our Corporate Sponsors:

+ Billabong
+ Brushfire Records
+ PacSun
+ Quiksilver
+ SIMA
(Surf Industry Manufacturers Association)
+ Stacer Boats

 

+ Balance Vector
+ Coastalwatch.com
+ Deutsche Group Services P/L

+ Fuel TV
+ Lonely Planet

+ Angel Printing San Diego
+ Air New Zealand
+ Hallenstein Limited
+ Plenary Group Pty Ltd
+ Group Administration Aust Pty Ltd

+ ASR (Action Sports Retailers)/VNU Expositions
+ SurfExpo
+ Bemus Landscape
+ Globe
+ Reef
+ Vans
 
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