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San Diego Baykeeper
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, May 7, 2005
| Press Contacts | |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth Studebaker | (619) 758-7743 (619) 300-2760 (cell) |
Hundreds Gather to Raise Funds for Clean Water Education at San Diego Baykeeper's SAVE THE BAY 2005
SAN DIEGO, CA - Over 300 San Diegans came to Mission Bay today to support clean water at San Diego Baykeeper's annual Save the Bay Celebration. Save the Bay brings together water sport enthusiasts, community leaders and concerned San Diegans to celebrate the bays and beaches that are essential to our way of life. "The goal of Save the Bay is to get people on the water while raising awareness of how we can all play a role in protecting our natural resources," stated Baykeeper's Executive Director Bruce Reznik.
The centerpiece of the event is Paddle for the Bay, which attracted over one hundred San Diegans who raced in 4 or 8 mile courses aboard their kayaks, outrigger canoes, paddle boards and surf-skis. Participants also were able to take kayak nature tours of Mission Bay, play a hands-on role in restoring our coast through beach & bay cleanups, enjoy kayak water polo demonstrations, and learn about our environment at an educational eco-exposition – all while enjoying food donated by local vendors and live music provided by the Fish & the Seaweeds.
"We were excited to see many old friends and involve new partners in this year's Save the Bay," added Reznik. At this year's event, more than twenty children from Outdoor Outreach - a non-profit organization committed to providing an opportunity for all children to gain confidence and self-esteem through participation in outdoor activities – helped clean Mission Beach before taking nature tours of the Bay. For the first time, Baykeeper's eco-expo was joined by Earth Share of California, which coordinates workplace giving for over eighty environmental charities statewide, as well as its local San Diego affiliates, including the Surfrider Foundation and Sierra Club.
This year, Baykeeper partnered with the City of San Diego to dedicate funds from Save the Bay to an innovative clean water/pollution prevention curricula being taught at San Diego City Schools (SDCS). Project SWELL (Stewardship: Water Education for Lifelong Leadership) represents a unique partnership between San Diego Baykeeper, the City of San Diego, the Port District, SDCS, and other project partners. Project SWELL is a hands-on science-based curriculum that seeks to foster an appreciation for our unique marine environment in our youth.
"Project SWELL teaches children about stewardship of our local waters, while giving students the tools to prevent pollution at the source," added Karen Henry, Deputy Director of the City of San Diego's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program. "Urban Runoff is now among the leading sources of pollution to San Diego's coast, and education is the most effective way to address this problem."
California State Assembly member Lori Saldaña and San Diego City Council member Donna Frye joined community and environmental leaders for Save the Bay 2005. "It is great to see so many paddlers of all ages come together to enjoy Mission Bay in an environmentally friendly manner while also learning about how we can work together to reduce pollution of our waters," noted Council member Donna Frye.
Save the Bay sponsors included: MEC Analytical Systems, Inc. - Weston Solutions, Inc., Rick Engineering Company, RBF & Associates and the San Diego City Fire Fighters.
San Diego Baykeeper, a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, is a community-based non-profit organization that is dedicated to the principal that protecting the region's coastal waters is the job of every citizen. Since 1995, Baykeeper has been leading the charge to protect and restore San Diego's bays, coastal waters and watersheds through outreach, education and advocacy. For additional information about Save the Bay visit www.sdbaykeeper.org
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