{"id":6719,"date":"2014-08-11T17:44:00","date_gmt":"2014-08-12T00:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6719"},"modified":"2014-08-11T09:46:34","modified_gmt":"2014-08-11T16:46:34","slug":"isurf-block-party-launches-watergirl-initiative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=6719","title":{"rendered":"iSurf Block Party Launches Watergirl Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Courtesy

Courtesy iSurf<\/p><\/div>\n

Santa Barbara’s women’s surf program,\u00a0iSurf School<\/a>, has\u00a0launched a new Watergirl Fund to help introduce girls to the joys of surfing. The fund is a scholarship program that will provide needs-based scholarships for surf instruction and will introduce the wonders of surfing to girls, ages 5-15, who would don\u2019t have access to the sport.\u00a0 The fund will also provide 100% scholarship and sponsorship funded surf programing to Girls, Inc.<\/a> throughout the year, according to a statement from Alelia Parenteau<\/a>, the owner of iSurf School.<\/p>\n

The Fund will officially launch on Aug. 17 at the\u00a0\u00a0iSurf Block Party, produced by WA Event Management & Consulting and hosted by The Valley Project<\/a>\u00a0(AVA Santa Barbara) and Pali Wine Co. <\/a>The festivities\u00a0include a silent auction, raffle, music, pig roast, ice cream stand and beer and wine.<\/p>\n

Parenteau says “The goal is to raise $15,000 to provide needs-based scholarships up to 30 girls to attend a quarter of after school program. The girls selected would not have been able to attend without the invaluable support of the community.”<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone has their own unique way of surfing,\u201d says Gabi Turnbull, age 9 and an alum of the iSurf After School Program, \u201csome surf schools teach the \u201cone\u201d way to surf but at iSurf you\u2019re encouraged to develop your own style and explore your interests. Plus, I feel like a part of something bigger \u2013 a connection with the environment and the global surf community. My life IS surfing now, that\u2019s how much I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n

iSurf has already partnered with prominent businesses in the Santa Barbara community to make this event a success.\u00a0 Donors include Lole Atelier, SeaVees<\/a>, Horny Toad, The Valley Project, Pali Wine Co, the Canary Hotel, and many more (for a complete list please see the Watergirl Fund webpage<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are completely humbled by the support of the community to make this event a major success,\u201d says Parenteau, \u201cit\u2019s amazing to see how many people think this cause is important and see the value of this program and of surfing in general to the young girls in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The event will be held on Sunday, August 17 from 5\u20139 p.m. at the Valley Project and Pali Wine Co, 116 E. Yanonali St. in the Funk Zone. For more information click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014Leslie Dinaberg<\/p>\n

Originally published in\u00a0Santa Barbara SEASONS<\/a>\u00a0on August 10, 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n

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