Eilene Zimmerman

San Diego Business

Surfrider Welcomes Donations For Clean Water

Cali Bamboo contributes $20,000 to the cause
By Eilene Zimmerman
Posted on Tue, Nov 3rd, 2009
Last updated Mon, Nov 2nd, 2009

Cali Bamboo, a green manufacturer of residential and commercial building materials made from bamboo, donated $20,000 to Surfrider Foundation National Headquarters and the San Diego chapter on October 27. The company contributed $10,000 to national headquarters and $10,000 to the local chapter to support clean water initiatives that aim to protect the ocean.

Cali Bamboo is a member of 1% for the Planet—a network of 1,289 companies that donate one percent of their sales to a network of more than 1,800 environmental organizations worldwide. The San Diego company allocates one percent of its annual revenues towards environmental groups around the United States.

Jeff Goldberg

_{Courtesy photo}

“Cali Bamboo’s generous donation, both on the national and local level, illustrates that they truly care about helping us with our mission and supporting the programs we advocate,” said Jim Moriarty, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation. Although the Foundation is active in local beach protection, the nonprofit aims its efforts at protection of the world’s oceans and beaches. The organization has grown from a small group of dedicated surfers in Malibu, 25 years ago, to a global movement of more than 50,000 members and 90 chapters.

Environmentalists see the organization’s mission as crucial. Ocean pollution is increasing, and scientists estimate that 70-80 percent of the pollution comes from land-based sources like untreated or partially treated sewage, industrial effluents and agricultural runoff. In the developing world, coastal cities frequently dump their untreated wastes into the sea. In fact, one of the most contentious water pollution issues in the San Diego border region has been the pumping of untreated sewage into rivers and oceans.

A study by the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis published in the February 2008 issue of Science estimated that more than 40 percent of the world’s oceans have been heavily affected by human land-based activities; only 4 per cent of ocean waters “remain relatively pristine,” according to the report.

Cali Bamboo CEO Jeff Goldberg said that while the company’s goal is business success, it also places importance on making the planet “a more environmentally friendly place. Our contribution is a testament to this philosophy. Being in San Diego, the ocean is our backyard,” he says, “which makes the Surfrider Foundation an organization our company is passionate about supporting.”

About the author: Eilene Zimmerman is a journalist based in San Diego who writes about a variety of topics, including business, social and political issues and family life. Her work has been published in national magazines and newspapers including The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Christian Science Monitor, FORTUNE Small Business, CNNMoney.com, CBS MoneyWatch.com, Wired, Harper’s, Salon.com, Slate.com, Psychology Today and others. She blogs at www.trueslant.com.
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