Friday, September 18, 2009

Save The Date! Save Gaviota Holiday Fundraiser

The Santa Barbara Chapter’s Save Gaviota Holiday Fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, December 11th at the SOHO Restaurant & Bar in Santa Barbara. Live music, food, a silent auction, fun raffle prizes and Surfrider Foundation merchandise will round out a really fun evening. Get your holiday shopping done, celebrate the holidays and show your support for this very important cause. Additional details will be added soon, so please check back for more info.

The goal of this event is to raise funds crucially needed to continue their outreach, education, and legal battles to Stop all development south of Highway 101 and preserve the Gaviota Coastline for future generations to enjoy. The theme of the event is a simple celebration of the natural and pristine beauty of the Gaviota Coast and the general public’s overwhelming desire to keep it that way.

The Chapter is presently seeking unique silent auction items that capture the evening’s theme through original paintings, photographs, or mixed media pieces. The Chapter also welcomes donations for the evening’s raffle; gift certificates to local restaurants, movie tickets, surf merchandise, etc.

We hope you will consider donating to this event, and we would be grateful for any suggestions you may have of other businesses or individuals who would be interested in supporting this cause to help make this event a huge success! Email nhastings@surfrider.org to donate or for more information on this event.


Save Gaviota - Background:
The Gaviota Coast in Santa Barbara County, CA is the last undeveloped stretch of coastline in southern California and is facing an increasing threat of development. While the Gaviota Coast represents only fifteen percent of the 300-mile Southern California coastline, it contains about fifty percent of its remaining rural coastline. Even though most of the Southern California coastal areas have been dramatically altered and biologically degraded by expanding human occupation, the Gaviota Coast retains a high degree of biodiversity. It is a rich and vital natural resource that should be preserved and protected for future generations to enjoy.

What’s at Risk:
There are presently more than a dozen development projects being planned, the most significant of which (known as Naples) would permit 72 luxury homes, which would average 8,000 square feet in size.

Since its inception, the Surfrider Foundation Santa Barbara Chapter has been a leader in local efforts to halt and/or limit further development of the Gaviota Coast.

Santa Barbara Chapter website – http://www.surfrider.org/santabarbara