Surfrider is about passion. It’s about people engaging and becoming stewards protecting what you love. And since of their local oceans, waves and beach- coming here, I’ve discovered that noth- es. On top of this, our domestic chapter ing displays this passion better than network is now larger than ever, with 84 our stories. Stories about our activists. chapters nationwide. Our supporters. Our campaigns. Stories So, welcome to Surfrider. This about us. new print piece will be published twice a The piece you hold in your year for our most loyal donors and con- hands is a new way for us to connect tributors. In it, we’ll share our stories. with you. So, if you’re asking what this Your stories. And, we’ll connect your is and why you’re receiving it, the an- support to the work we are accomplish- swer is simple… it’s about sharing our ing. It’s your donations that are enabling stories. this work. Your support is our lifeblood. You’ve had a meaningful role We hope you enjoy these stories as much as we do. has enabled amazing work to take place, including some notable coastal preser- Thank you for your continued generous vation victories, and we simply want to support. year period between 2006 and 2011 Sur- For our oceans, waves and beaches, frider annually enjoyed an average of 28 domestic coastal victories. In 2013, that Jim Moriarty number jumped by more than 50% to 43. CEO This year we’re on track to have another banner year. Each one of these victories P.S. If you have comments or questions has a story. But, they all share one thing: regarding this new publication, please each was fought and won by local activ- feel free to email us at surfrider_mag@ surfrider.org SHARE YOUR LOVE FOR OUR OCEANS, WAVES AND BEACHES.
Just by including Surfrider Foundation in your estate plans, you can help protect our coasts for future generations. A bequest is a simple way to support Surfrider in the future while retaining control of your
By leaving a gift to Surfrider in one of these ways, you will be included in our Legacy Circle and you will remind your friends and loved ones that throughout your lifetime and beyond, you cared for the world’s oceans, waves and beaches.
For more information about including Surfrider Foundation in your estate, please contact Steve Blank, our Director of Development at (949) 492-8170 x 416 or [email protected].
If you have already arranged for a future gift, please contact us so we can add you to our Legacy Circle. HE FELT WOOZY went on to suggest that the infection was - AND DIZZY luted waters. Rhodes was told to stay out of “For people to engage, there needs to the water for a few weeks and allow the be an epiphany. Mine was simple. I got ear to heal. During his recuperation, he sick.” began to take a closer look at his local beaches and waves. “I grew up going to In 1995, Mike Rhodes was a Senior Part- Torrey Pines State Beach with my Dad ner with Cooley Godward Kronish and in the 60s. He would push my sister and me into waves on those old rubber mats. was a Friday and the waves were pump- I’ve lived and surfed in Del Mar since ing. Sure, it had been raining for a cou- about 1979. I’ve seen the degradation ple days, but the ocean was calling and of the beaches over time and the deterio- Mike was experiencing the feeling that ration of the oceans. My observation is surfers know too well . . . he was itch- that the beaches, the quality of the water, ing to get out for a surf after weeks of the quality of the environment – has suf- work and no surf. Saturday morning, he fered.” loaded up his board and headed to 15th Mike had heard about the Sur- Street in Del Mar, his local break and the frider Foundation but wasn’t a member and wasn’t active with his local chapter. had a great session, caught his share of As he began to do more research, what he waves, and went home feeling rejuvenat- found impressed him. The local chapter ed and ready to return to the courtroom was performing water quality testing at on Monday, where he would make his beaches in his area. They were trying to closing argument and then babysit the raise consciousness and help people to jury during their deliberations. understand the impacts of their actions When Monday rolled around, on the water quality. Mike believed that he felt woozy and dizzy but managed to they were taking steps to improve water get through his closing. By Tuesday, he quality over the long term, and he decid- was unstable and couldn’t even drive his ed he wanted to support those efforts. “I car. He asked his partner to attend to the started by making some donations. Lat- jury and asked his wife to take him to the er, one of my partners, who was doing doctor. After some routine tests, his doc- some pro bono work for Surfrider at the tor informed him that he was suffering time, suggested that I might also be able from a massive ear infection and build to use my professional talents to help the organization.” As an attorney focused on cor- same “big law” acumen that he offers to porate law and intellectual property, clients like Facebook, eBay and Google Mike wasn’t sure how he could apply his to help Surfrider Foundation consider knowledge. But after joining the Legal their plans, look at the angles and make Issues Committee (LIC) – a small group wise decisions pertaining to litigation. of advisory attorneys who help guide the Mike has also been an ambas- direction of the Legal Department – he sador of sorts for Surfrider. He has en- found that he could apply a business couraged others to get involved and uti- - tion. “I don’t view litigation as an ef- organization. Clients who surf are told fective instrument for the environmental to contact their local chapters and see movement. It’s entirely retrospective. how they can help out. Others are intro- Something bad has already happened. duced to Surfrider’s leadership as poten- The water is polluted. Access has been tial donors or board members. Rhodes impeded. Something has occurred that has even passed it along to his family you want to challenge or change. You’re members. His daughter, Molly, interned trying to reset the clock and put it back. at Surfrider Foundation’s Global Head- Very often you don’t ultimately win the quarters while she attended UCLA. war. You’re skirmishing over battles.” Throughout, he has remained a So, Mike began to ask questions with a loyal major donor to Surfrider. “I grew corporate business lens applied to Sur- up in modest means. But, my career has blessed me with a lucrative income and that litigating this case will accomplish your short-term objective but you will me should plow that asset back into the lose in the long term? What is the col- community. I personally have a creed lateral damage if you wage the battle but that I should give 10 to 15 percent of my end up losing? What are the allocable income back to charity or to the commu- resources that can be focused on this nity. So, I’ve been willing to give freely problem? “You can’t tilt at every wind- to support Surfrider’s efforts.” mill,” says Rhodes. Rhodes has made efforts to Nearly twenty years on, Mike spread this mantra but has been frustrat- is still an active member of the LIC. He ed by the results. “I’ve been very disap- pointed at the challenge of getting others to Save Trestles. He has offered the – including those in my peer group – to - give money. It just shocks me. What search, planning and preparation related Surfrider does is hard and often futile to Surfrider’s legal efforts. He has pre- work, against all odds and with very sented to the San Diego Chapter regard- limited resources. I think that everyone ing the use of litigation as a tool in their should chip in, especially if they enjoy battles. And, he has continued to use the and utilize the resource at stake.” HONORING on behalf of the causes he believed in. amount given to the endowment is not Past recipients of the Dillon Henry Dillon’s loss continues to have spent, but instead is conservatively in- Memorial Internship fund include: A LIFE a tremendous impact on his classmates, vested. The investment earnings are friends and family. But, no one was then available for Surfrider to spend on more devastated than his parents, Harriet campaigns and projects or for purposes 2013 Dillon Henry (DHen to his friends) was Zaretsky and Steve Henry, and his sis- unique among teenage boys. He had a ter, Taylor Henry. The shock of losing was established with a gift of nearly passion for life and was multi-talented. such a remarkable son and brother was $200,000 from the Dillon Henry Foun- Entering his third year as a Law Student He was a social chameleon and had a di- immobilizing. Yet, they swiftly set in dation and Dillon’s friends and family at Duke University Law School. verse group of friends, all of whom ad- motion goals for themselves, as they felt gave another $50,000 bringing the origi- mired his joyful disposition and enjoyed honoring their son’s and brother’s desire nal principal in the fund to $250,000. his broad smile and charisma. Besides to make the world a better place had to Upon making their gift, Dillon’s parents Pursuing a Master of Science by Re- his friends, his two loves were writing be their mission too. And, this goodness remarked, “We hope to carry on for Dil- search in Marine Biology at James Cook would help them stay uplifted and pro- University. strong leadership characteristics and vide some relief from the unimaginable have continued to reach out to others and was a 17-year-old honor student about grief. They created the Dillon Henry engage them in working together to cre- 2012 to begin his senior year at Palisades Foundation and Dillonslist.org and part- ate better futures for us all. Dillon lived Charter High School when his life was - his life with purpose and with the knowl- cut short in a tragic car accident in July, nizations that were in sync with Dillon’s edge of the joy that comes from giving.” Graduated from Golden Gate University 2007. His friends remembered him for interests and passions. The goal of these The fund they created is the Law School. Interviewing for ocean and his unwavering kindness toward others partnerships was to create a worldwide Dillon Henry Memorial Internship Fund environmental law jobs in San Francis- and his belief that everyone should “pay community dedicated to education, chil- and will provide, in perpetuity, monetary co. it forward” by helping others. They also dren in need, human rights and the envi- support to help young people pursue a recalled his loyalty, his warm and en- ronment. career in coastal and marine conserva- gaging personality, his creativity and an In continuing the family tradi- tion. The funds generated by the endow- Completed her Masters of Environmen- inclusiveness that touched the hearts of tion of compassion and generous giving, ment will provide annual stipends for at tal Management at Duke University, those around him. the Dillon Henry Foundation created an Nicholas School of the Environment. During his junior year, Dillon endowed internship fund at the Surfrider the Surfrider Foundation’s environmen- Now a Coastal Processes Specialist, founded the Ocean Awareness Club at Foundation to preserve Dillon’s spirit tal and legal teams. With these funds New York Coastal Program, Albany, NY. Palisades Charter High School and it and his love for the oceans. Harriet’s Surfrider is able to attract, hire and train quickly became the most popular club and Steve’s partnership with Surfrider the best and most committed interns 2011 on campus, amassing more commu- each year. Since its creation in 2007, nity service hours for students than any gift of its type and represented the be- the fund has had a tremendous impact on other. The club was a demonstration of ginning of a formal endowment for the our internship program and has enabled Graduated from Tulane Law School. Dillon’s concern for our planet and its organization. a number of talented young minds to Now an Environmental Policy Graduate inhabitants, and the inquisitiveness and An endowment fund is similar gain valuable experience while helping Fellow at The Association of Clean Wa- character that often drove him to action to a permanent savings account. The Surfrider with our mission-related work. ter Administrators in Washington, DC. Graduated from the Bren School of En- Graduated from Bren School of Envi- vironmental Science and Management. ronmental Science & Management and Now a Water Conservation Representa- accepted a job as an Instructor at the tive for the City of Santa Cruz, CA. University of the Virgin Islands.
2010 2008