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Community Corner

Reef Check Foundation Fundraising Gala

Please join the Reef Check Foundation on Thursday, October 2nd to celebrate the reefs and oceans! Reef Check's 2014 Save the Reefs, Save the Oceans Gala will be on the beach at the Jonathan Beach Club in Santa Monica. The evening will feature amazing music by Maria de la Vega and the Wayward Five, unique auction items, delicious food, and a chance to meet our honorees and some of the thousands of volunteer Reef Check EcoDivers who monitor Californian and tropical reefs as part of the Reef Check Foundation's citizen scientist programs.

We will recognize the contributions of our “Heroes of the Reef” each having demonstrated an exemplary commitment to ocean conservation. This year, we honor Julie Packard, marine biologist and Executive Director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Through her work at the aquarium, the Pew Oceans Commission, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and through service on numerous boards, Julie has dedicated her life to marine conservation and the promotion of sound environmental policy. Ed Begley Jr., actor, director and environmentalist, will be honored for his dedication to and passion for the ocean and environmental concerns. Ed has long been considered a leader in the area of reducing our carbon footprint. Reef Check supporters include Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio, our honorary Board Chair, and previous honorees have included Jean-Michel Cousteau, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Daryl Hannah, and Wyland.

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Proceeds from the gala will fund Reef Check’s award-winning educational programs for children and the conservation of two endangered ecosystems: tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs. Reef Check programs in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide provide ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions to save reefs by creating partnerships among community volunteers, government agencies, businesses, universities and other nonprofits.

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For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://reefcheck.org/events/gala2014/

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