Surfboards, Autism, Pearl Jam and Incubus
Surfboards, Autism, Pearl Jam and Incubus
Thank god for surfers. Sometimes I feel if it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be harnessing the healing powers of the ocean or tackling the environmental issues that stem from polluted waters. But we are, thanks in part to two surf related organizations that are leading the pack.
First, the Surfrider Foundation. This organization is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans through conservation, activism, research and education…its represented by over 50,000 members and 60+ local chapters in the U.S., with affiliations in Australia, Japan, France, and Brazil…and mark your calendars kids because on October 9 in Los Angeles, they are celebrating their 25th anniversary in style by awarding the ‘Surfriders Keeper of the Coast Award’ to Incubus AND Pearl Jam. This award is only given out once every five years to celebrities who have made significant contributions towards helping the foundation fulfill its mission. Joining Pearl Jam and Incubus at the bash? Baywatch actor David Chokachi, and a performance by the legendary Camp Freddy (featuring members from Jane’s Addiction, the Cult and Guns n’ Roses)…get your tickets HERE.
The second organization which is transforming lives-literally-is Surfers Healing. If you’re a regular reader, you should know by now that Surfers Healing was founded by Izzy and Danielle Paskowitz after their son Isaiah was diagnosed with autism. Soon, they realized the only place where Isaiah seemed to find respite was the ocean…so Izzy took Isaiah out surfing, (sharing the same board) and it had such a profound impact on Isaiah that Izzy and his wife decided they wanted to share this unique therapy with other autistic children…they soon began hosting day camps at the beach where autistic children and their families could be exposed to a completely new experience of surfing-and today, its one of the most recognized surf related organizations to spread love to autistic kids coast-to-coast. Most recently, you may recall, it was giving a massive dose of love from Flea during the Liquid Nation Ball.
And it’s not just Flea stepping up to support Izzy and his organization… surf legends such as Kelly Slater, Laird Hamilton, Matt Archbold, Makua Rothman, Sunny Garcia, Garrett McNamarra, Dustin Barca, Michael and Dereck Ho, Shane and Gavin Beshen, the Malloy Brothers, Shaun Tomson, Joel Tudor, Nathan Fletcher and Timmy Patterson, have all recently stepped up and donated surfboards and surf memorabilia to be auctioned off the top the Ritz-Carlton, (Laguna), during the Second Annual Holiday Surfboard Auction to benefit Surfers Healing. Several celebrities, including Scott Caan, Benjiman Bratt and Robert Hays, also signed boards and items…All surf items will be on display from Sunday, November 22 through December 31, 2009 with the bidding closing at noon on December 31, 2009. For more info, please visit SurfersHealing.org.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
on October 2nd, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I have never been so totally grateful to any one organization in my life as I am to Surfers Healing. These guys are the kind of men I truly want to be. They are all about love and sharing. Just one look at the cute little boy on the board with Izzy speaks volumes…. to me, because that’s my son Ben. He is 3 years old, diagnosed with autism at 18 months after a vaccine injury took all his vocabulary, his eye contact, his awareness of his surroundings and replaced them with blank stares, seizures, fevers, temper tantrums and sensory issues that among other things causes him to hate wearing wet clothes, couldn’t even stand for a drop of water to get on his clothes. Yet this little boy took to the water and chilly air and the stranger that paddled him away from the only two people he really knew exist and rode with Izzy and loved it. He is a changed little fella because of people like Izzy and John Pike and all the others that day who have made this their calling. Perhaps it is me that changed a little too, knowing that people like this exists makes me , my wife and perhaps Ben not feel so alone as we struggle to bring Ben back. Thanks guys.
http://d.yimg.com/kq/groups/17498862/sn/320085482/name/bensurfershealing.jpg
“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”