About 150 Friends of the Ocean gathered at Marina Village on Sunday, July 28th.
Night for the Sea was a success thanks to our amazing Surfrider San Diego community! With your support, we raised over $40,000 through our silent auction, ticket sales, sponsors, and memberships. Once a year, Surfrider Foundation San Diego moves from protecting the coast to an evening of celebration. We jammed out to COYO and Paul Sage ft. Nasrin Noelani, applauded our dedicated volunteers, and came together for one mission: to raise critical funds for the Chapter while having a great time.
Attendees were greeted by volunteers and enjoyed ceviche donated by Mitch’s Seafood. As they entered the venue, they were welcomed by acoustic music played by COYO. People mingled, placed strategic bids on silent auction items, and connected with both new and familiar faces. Whether attending alone or in groups, everyone found someone to converse with. That’s one of the great things about the Surfrider community—everyone is welcoming and friendly!
Friends of the Ocean Recognition
The evening’s program began with a beautiful land acknowledgment by Paul Cannon. Throughout the event, four core volunteers were celebrated and recognized for going above and beyond for the ocean, waves, and beaches:
From left to right: Ben Rubenson, Janis Selby Jones, Bethany Case, Acxel Herrera-Ibarra.
- Ben Rubenson has held several key positions at Surfrider Foundation San Diego. As a Beach Cleanup Captain in Oceanside, Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) Lead, and currently Chair of the Executive Committee, Ben has been instrumental in ensuring the success of our programs. We are incredibly proud and grateful for his contributions!
- Janis Selby Jones, a retired educator from the Oceanside School District, has been essential in making education about plastic pollution fun and engaging. Encouraging others to adopt sustainable habits is challenging, but Janis has taken the initiative to create engaging activities for both youth and adults. She consistently says yes to new projects, keeps track of plastic ordinances across the county, and advocates for a plastic-free world.
- Bethany Case finds humor in life’s challenges. A resident of Imperial Beach and local educator at Mar Vista High School, Bethany is a passionate advocate for addressing the public health crisis and environmental justice issues in South Bay. Her family and friends have been personally impacted by the lack of action to address raw sewage entering her community and beaches. She has spearheaded the Clean Border Water Now campaign alongside staff, deeply caring about her community and seeing the issue resolved, making her a true friend of the ocean.
- Acxel Herrera-Ibarra first got involved with Surfrider through our beach cleanup program. After attending a Chapter Meeting, his involvement deepened, particularly with the BWTF testing at Imperial Beach. His work has helped Imperial Beach become a priority in the Clean Water Report. Now, as a new Imperial Beach cleanup site captain, Acxel supports all our programming. He’s been a fantastic addition to our core volunteer team!
The evening was a resounding success. Thanks to everyone who attended, we raised crucial funds that will support our ongoing efforts to protect our oceans, waves, and beaches. From the volunteers who make our work possible to the generous donors and supporters, we couldn’t do it without you.
As we look forward to another year of advocacy, community, and action, we’re reminded of the power we have when we come together for a shared cause. We hope to see you at our next event, continuing the fight for a healthier, cleaner coastline.
Thank you for being a part of the Surfrider Foundation San Diego family—where everyone is a Friend of the Ocean. If you weren’t able to attend and want to support our efforts, please donate here!
You can view more event photos here.
