A while back I took a shot at winning a lottery. Through Omaze I entered a contest to win a trip to Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch to surf his unique and perfect manmade wave. It was a rare opportunity in the surf world and as stoked as I would have been to win, I was equally stoked to lose. Here’s why – the proceeds from this lottery went to World Surf League (WSL) PURE, a nonprofit arm of the WSL aimed at improving the health of the ocean.
As it turns out, this is not the only Omaze campaign Kelly Slater or Shane Dorian have bolstered. In June of 2016, Omaze posted details of funding efforts by Slater and Dorian – they raised about $75,000 for Surfaid. Slater also paired up with Dorian and Omaze to bring money in for a Skate 2 School Scholarship Fund, the Keiki Classic surf event, and Borneo Orangutan Survival Australia (BOSA). For all their hard work and dedication the two were named Humanitarians of the Year by Surfaid.
The most recent campaign, seeking to help the Keiki Classic and BOSA, while offering up a surf trip with Slater and Dorian to Fiji, wrapped up October 27, 2016. Again, I bought a ticket – knowing that even if I didn’t win the luxury trip to Fiji and personal surf coaching by Slater and Dorian, I’d still be stoked on the outcome of my purchase.
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