SIMA Humanitarian Fund to Honor SurfAid's Dr. Dave Jenkins at Liquid Nation Ball 5

7/9/2008
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (JULY 9, 2008) – The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) Humanitarian Fund is proud to announce Dr. Dave Jenkins, CEO of SurfAid International, as Humanitarian of the Year. Dr. Dave will be honored at Liquid Nation Ball 5, the official fundraiser for the SIMA Humanitarian Fund, on Friday, September 5, 2008.

Dr. Dave Jenkins is the first-ever SIMA Humanitarian of the Year to be honored by the SIMA Humanitarian Fund Board. As the CEO and inspiration behind SurfAid International, Dr. Dave has made medical and life changing impacts on people’s lives across the world. Dr. Dave is most well known for his selfless contribution and dedication to building SurfAid International and working with the Mentawai people. His passion for the “hand up, not a handout” philosophy and desire to empower the Mentawai people to function independently, serves as an inspiration to us all.

“Dr. Dave’s commitment to his work and improving the lives of others is second to none,” said Dick Baker, SIMA Humanitarian Fund president. “He has helped to bring a greater awareness of global humanitarian issues to the tight-knit surf community. Dr. Dave has shown surfers that while we are fortunate to enjoy the amazing waves and exotic locations the world has to offer – such as in the Mentawai Islands – it is important for surfers to give back to the people who share their beaches with us. It is an honor to celebrate the efforts and triumphs of Dr. Dave, and even a greater honor to call him a member of the surf industry tribe.”

Liquid Nation Ball 5 will be held in La Jolla, Calif., beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the ocean-front home of Fernando and Vicky Aguerre. The event includes dancing, live music, great food, open bar, and a short live auction of a unique collection of one-of-a-kind items to benefit the 14 surf-related humanitarian organizations. Last year’s event raised more than $250,000 and the SIMA Humanitarian Fund Board of Directors aims to beat that record amount in 2008. For more information visit www.liquid-nation.com. Tickets will be on sale in late July.

“Liquid Nation Ball continues to grow in success every year and not just because we know how to put on a great party, but because we all have a passion for helping others through the benefits of surfing,” said, Fernando Aguerre, Liquid Nation host and co-founder. “Honoring Dr. Dave as our first-ever SIMA Humanitarian of the Year will add a whole new special and fun element to the ball. This year we are not only enjoying helping raise funds for 14 beneficiaries, but now we are also celebrating the work of someone truly amazing.”

Liquid Nation Ball was originally created by Santiago and Fernando Aguerre to support the humanitarian efforts of SurfAid. In 2006 the brothers donated the Ball to the SIMA Humanitarian Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. The ball now serves as the official fundraising event for the SIMA Humanitarian Fund. All proceeds from Liquid Nation Ball 5 will benefit 14 surf-related social and humanitarian non-profit organizations selected by the SIMA Humanitarian Fund Board of Directors for their efforts focusing on improving the quality of life, health and/or welfare of people. The 2008 Liquid Nation Ball beneficiaries include Keep a Breast, Boarding for Breast Cancer, Surfer’s Healing, Jimmy Miller Foundation, AccesSurf Hawaii, Outdoor Outreach, Get a Board Foundation, Ka Keikio Hawaii Foundation, Stoked Mentoring, L.A. Surf Bus, Life Rolls On, Project Wipeout, SurfAid International and Sumba Foundation.

For event information or to make a contribution to the SIMA Humanitarian Fund, please contact Shannon Park, at 949.366.1164 x2.

For all press inquiries, please contact SIMA Communications Coordinator, Mandy Johnson, at 949.366.1164 x7.

The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is the official working trade association of more than 300 surf industry suppliers. Founded in 1989, SIMA is a non-profit organization that serves to promote awareness of the surf industry and participation in the sport of surfing through public relations efforts and a variety of services, educational programs and research. In addition, SIMA actively supports oceanic environmental efforts through its 501(c)(3) charitable environmental foundation, the SIMA Environmental Fund. In the past 19 years, SIMA's Environmental Fund has raised more than $4 million for environmental groups seeking to protect the world's oceans, beaches and waves. The SIMA Humanitarian Fund, also a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, was established in 2006 to award grants to various surf or boardsport related social and humanitarian non-profit organizations whose efforts are focused on improving the quality of life, health and/or welfare of people.