Switchfoot put feet where their name is

News 13 May 11 By

Switchfoot put feet where their name is

News 13 May 11 By

The Switchfoot Bro-Am Presented By Hurley will take place on Saturday, June 18th, at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, CA. The surf contest/beach concert is the centerpiece in a weekend full of activities conceived by GRAMMY® winning rock band SWITCHFOOT to give back to their local community and benefit the San Diego and Oceanside chapters of StandUp For Kids (www.standupforkids.org), a national nonprofit volunteer outreach organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk, homeless and street kids. The line-up for the concert will be announced soon.

Since its inception in 2005, the Bro-Am has raised more than $400,000 for San Diego-based children’s charities. Last year’s event was the most successful to date, drawing over 7,500 attendees and raising more than $135,000 for the local chapters of StandUp For Kids. While admission to the beach event is free, funds will be raised at an Auction Night Soiree (set for June 16 at a private residence), as well as through sponsorships, beach vendors and an after-party held on the evening of June 18th at the Belly Up Tavern in nearby Solana Beach (tickets on sale next week).

“The Bro-Am has been my favorite day of the year ever since we started it back in ’05,” says SWITCHFOOT’S Jon Foreman. “To see our hometown come together to help out a deserving group of kids is an incredible experience.  The StandUp Kids are true survivors, unsung heroes who have endured so much. The Bro-Am is our chance to celebrate their journey: a day at the beach with friends, surfing, and a little rock and roll. Last year was our biggest year ever, and we hope to top it again this year.”

David Bakelman, CEO, StandUp For Kids, notes, “StandUp For Kids is again proud to be chosen as the recipient of the proceeds from this year’s Bro-Am. Jon, Tim, Chad, Jerome and Drew show the true commitment of impacting homeless youth in Southern California. They have shown a tireless effort to help homeless youth, one at a time, and are an inspiration to our volunteers and homeless youth.”

San Diego-based Sustainable Waves, which utilizes the renewable energy sources of the sun to deliver 100% pollution-free concerts, will again provide cutting-edge solar-powered sound and staging for the Switchfoot Bro-Am. By using solar power rather than a diesel generator or grid power, the Bro-Am will avoid emitting approximately 1,000 lbs of CO2 into the atmosphere (the equivalent of not driving your car approximately 1,100 miles or the annual sequestration of 66 trees).

Four-person surf teams secure their participation via sponsorship donation to StandUp For Kids. This year’s teams will include riders representing Hurley, Billabong, Surfer Magazine, Transworld Surf, Surf Ride, Jetpilot, AKA and Shaper Studios Surfboards as well as members of SWITCHFOOT. For the second consecutive year, the Bro-Am will also feature a junior division in the surf contest. Rather than a financial donation, the youth teams that collect the most clothing donations will win a spot to compete. The beach day will also feature a nerf surf jousting exposition and an expression session.  For additional details about the Switchfoot Bro-Am Presented By Hurley, please visit http://www.switchfoot.com/c/bro-am.

ABOUT SWITCHFOOT

SWITCHFOOT is Jon Foreman (vocals/guitar), Tim Foreman (bass), Chad Butler (drums), Jerome Fontamillas (keys/guitar) and Drew Shirley (guitar). The band won its first GRAMMY award earlier this year for Hello Hurricane, which entered at #13 on The Billboard 200 and contained the Modern Rock hits “The Sound (John M. Perkins’ Blues)and “Mess of Me.” The follow-up to Hello Hurricane will be released later this year. SWITCHFOOT just wrapped up an international tour of Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines and will launch a 10-city, major market Canadian tour on May 16th. For more information, visit http://www.switchfoot.com.

ABOUT STANDUP FOR KIDS

The mission of StandUp For Kids is to end the cycle of youth homelessness. The organization’s volunteers go to the streets in order to find, stabilize and otherwise help homeless and street kids improve their lives by providing and connecting them with lifesaving services.  StandUp For Kids has been recognized by both the George W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations and the U.S. Justice Department for the impact and scope of its programs. Charity Navigator recently recognized StandUp For Kids as one of the most efficient and effective nonprofits in the United States.  To find out more, visit www.standupforkids.org.

ABOUT HURLEY
“Hurley is a company based on inclusion,” says chairman and founder Bob Hurley.  This philosophy applied to Bob Hurley’s early years as a Huntington Beach shaper, working with friends alongside the world’s best athletes to make a better surfboard. It applied to the company’s launch in 1999, when Hurley decided to start a brand that was a true microphone for youth. In 2002, Hurley was acquired by Nike — the largest and most influential sporting brand in the world. Inclusion remains a guiding principle of the company today, where innovative products like Phantom Boardshorts and game-changing events like the US Open of Surfing continue to redefine what is possible in our world. Hurley headquarters are in Costa Mesa, CA with international offices in Sydney, Tokyo, Barcelona and Bali. For more information, visit www.hurley.com.

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