If you can please spare it...

Another earthquake and tsunami has struck Indonesia...

The 7.7M earthquake, which triggered a tsunami that has been recorded as being up to six metres (20 feet) high in some villages, struck 17 days ago at 9.41pm on Monday night 25 October.

The latest report from the Indonesian Government says that 447 people have been killed, 57 are missing, and 173 are seriously injured. More than 15,000 people have been displaced from their homes and are living in temporary shelters, many on the hills above their villages as they fear another tsunami.

As of 11/11/2010 -

SurfAid completed the first phase of our Emergency Response for the Mentawai Islands which has concentrated on assessing the immediate needs of the affected communities and distributing food and non-food assistance. We now move into two new phases of Recovery programs which will last until the end of October 2011.

For anyone that reads my blog will know, I am a HUGE supporter of SurfAid International. I get frequent email updates about what's happening in the Mentawai and what SurfAid is doing to help.

If you can spare it, please consider making a contribution. As you can see from the photo above a mere $2 will buy someone a hygiene kit. That costs less than a fancy coffee drink from Starbucks and will go so much further.

Mahalo.

Thanks to everyone for your support

Once again -- Thank you to everyone that participated, sponsored or volunteered at Swim 4 Humanity 2010. All the events were amazing and we raised $45,000 for SurfAid International's humanitarian programs; all this in a very tough economic year! Thank you to all 5 West Coast locations and the East Coast proved to be exceptional and provided much needed support and good will!

Congratulations to:
1st prize: Trip to Indonesia by World Surfari's: Jana Crawford O'Brien (NJ)
2nd prize: Firewire Surfboard: Paul Riehle (SF)
3rd prize: Jay Alders twin fin surfboard by 9:fish: Ashley Marie Salter (NY)

Top fundraising team which raised over $10k: Prize Pending
The Manhattan Makos (NY)
Team Members:
Elliot Ptasnik, Javin Bose, Jane Carpenter, Alessandra Grassi, Maia Hare, Samantha Hare, Holland Rhodd-Lee, Conn Slattery, Hana Song, Marissa Song, Griffin Taylor, & Sophia Taylor


Prizes owed will be sent out the following weeks through the month of June. If you are waiting for a prize, it will be sent to your home through June. Please let me know if you have an address change or do not receive a prize as expected.



Please let your donors/sponsors know that donation receipts will be sent out the month of June as well. Anyone that donated offline will receive a donation receipt/letter. Online donors will also receive a donation receipt over a specified amount since they receive an automatically generated receipt.




Terima Kasih! (Thank you in Bahasa Indonesian)

This Saturday, 15 May 2010 - Swim4Humanity comes to NJ!!

It's finally here! All you lurkers, please send a donation!

Any little bit will help...

On the afternoon of May 15th 2010, I will be participating in a very special fundraising event called Swim 4 Humanity benefiting SurfAid International - hosted in seven cities on the west and east coasts from March to May 2010.

I will swim for thirty minutes with tons of other people. Monies raised will go towards SurfAid's humanitarian programs. The mission of SurfAid International, a non-profit humanitarian organization, is to improve the health, well-being and self-reliance of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing.

I've agreed to raise a minimum of $4,500 in donations. My personal goal is to raise more, but I need your help. Would you please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation of whatever amount you choose to help me meet my goal? Just follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising webpage, where you can donate online.

Worldwide, 10 million children die each year from preventable diseases. I'm participating in Swim 4 Humanity to raise money and awareness for SurfAid International's life-saving programs.

Thank you, in advance for your support of me and my efforts to reduce death and suffering from preventable disease in isolated regions of the world.

My Swim 4 Humanity donation page.

Please give what you can - even one dollar will make a difference.
And to those of you who have already donated - helping me to raise a little more than $3,500!!!! - THANK YOU doesn't begin to cover my gratitude.

Everyone likes a little dip in the pool, right?

A little bit ago I spoke to Elizabeth at SurfAid International and she told me not a whole lot of people have signed on to swim the New Jersey Swim4Humanity event. In fact, NYC is far outstripping NJ in total swimmers.

C'mon New Jersey!! We can't have that, can we?!

So while I've been badgering readers to sponsor me and my efforts to raise money for this amazing charity, I probably should have been encouraging people to sign up as well.

Please consider joining in - and if you can't, at least please make a donation.

Mahalo!

Swim 4 Humanity - SurfAid International

Any little bit will help...

On the afternoon of May 15th 2010, I will be participating in a very special fundraising event called Swim 4 Humanity benefiting SurfAid International - hosted in seven cities on the west and east coasts from March to May 2010.

I will swim for thirty minutes with tons of other people. Monies raised will go towards SurfAid's humanitarian programs. The mission of SurfAid International, a non-profit humanitarian organization, is to improve the health, well-being and self-reliance of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing.

I've agreed to raise a minimum of $4,500 in donations. My personal goal is to raise more, but I need your help. Would you please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation of whatever amount you choose to help me meet my goal? Just follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising webpage, where you can donate online.

Worldwide, 10 million children die each year from preventable diseases. I'm participating in Swim 4 Humanity to raise money and awareness for SurfAid International's life-saving programs.

Thank you, in advance for your support of me and my efforts to reduce death and suffering from preventable disease in isolated regions of the world.

My Swim 4 Humanity donation page.

Please give what you can - even one dollar will make a difference.
And to those of you who have already donated - helping me to raise a little more than $3,500!!!! - THANK YOU doesn't begin to cover my gratitude.

Walking the Walk - UPDATE

More like swimming the swim.

On the afternoon of May 15th 2010, I will be participating in a very special fundraising event called Swim 4 Humanity benefiting SurfAid International - hosted in seven cities on the west and east coasts from March to May 2010.

I will swim for thirty minutes with tons of other people. Monies raised will go towards SurfAid's humanitarian programs. The mission of SurfAid International, a non-profit humanitarian organization, is to improve the health, well-being and self-reliance of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing.

I've agreed to raise a minimum of $2,500 in donations. My personal goal is to raise more, but I need your help. Would you please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation of whatever amount you choose to help me meet my goal? Just follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising webpage, where you can donate online.

Worldwide, 10 million children die each year from preventable diseases. I'm participating in Swim 4 Humanity to raise money and awareness for SurfAid International's life-saving programs.

Thank you, in advance for your support of me and my efforts to reduce death and suffering from preventable disease in isolated regions of the world.

My Swim 4 Humanity donation page.

Please give what you can - even one dollar will make a difference.
And to those of you who have already donated - helping me to raise a little more than $1,500!!!! - THANK YOU doesn't begin to cover my gratitude.

Walking the walk...

Well, more like swimming the swim.

On the afternoon of May 15th 2010, I will be participating in a very special fundraising event called Swim 4 Humanity benefiting SurfAid International - hosted in seven cities on the west and east coasts from March to May 2010.

I will swim for thirty minutes with tons of other people. Monies raised will go towards SurfAid's humanitarian programs. The mission of SurfAid International, a non-profit humanitarian organization, is to improve the health, well-being and self-reliance of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing.

I've agreed to raise a minimum of $1,800 in donations. My personal goal is to raise more, but I need your help. Would you please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation of whatever amount you choose to help me meet my goal? Just follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising webpage, where you can donate online.

Worldwide, 10 million children die each year from preventable diseases. I'm participating in Swim 4 Life to raise money and awareness for SurfAid International's life-saving programs.

Thank you, in advance for your support of me and my efforts to reduce death and suffering from preventable disease in isolated regions of the world.

My Swim 4 Humanity donation page.

Please give what you can - even one dollar will make a difference.
And to those of you who have already donated, THANK YOU doesn't begin to cover my gratitude.