UrbanSurf4kids started in late 2008 with a simple hope- Taking foster/orphan youth (starting in Baja & San Diego) surfing, with the hope of inspiring them to serve our communities through volunteer outreach. What has happen since, is what we call the “Evolution of UrbanSurf4kids”

As our camps began to expand to other water based activities such as paddle boarding,sailing,scuba diving,and kayaking. We could literally see the foster/orphans youth beaming with joy @ our events! Thus, trust was being built and when we began to combine powerful volunteer opportunities- (such as events with Ronald McDonald House, beach clean ups & education with SurfRider Foundation, Health & Fitness events, painting projects,etc. ) doors were opening in the hearts of these youth!

The question became-”What can we do on a more consistent basis?” (We provide a water based event and volunteer opportunity once a month)

This is where we began to DREAM! What if we could provide an actual facility for foster/orphan youth? A place devoted to them to encourage and inspire- What if this location offered tutoring? Reading incentive programs? Leadership training? Health & Fitness Education? All of this continuing to be modeled around the concept we started with- Water based activities and a commitment to serving our neighbors.  So, the wheels began to spin………but……What do you do with a big dream and a limited budget??????

Fast forward to January 2012- Our program UrbanSurf4kids, has been serving the orphanages of La Mision Baja for several years at this point. We notice a vacant 900 sq ft retail location in the heart of this small community 50 minutes south of border. With complete FAITH and no plan,we rent this building-(I spoke English, landlord spoke SPANISH!). With this hope “Once we share this dream with others, somehow & someway this IS GOING TO HAPPEN”

Immediately,I drive over to the Door of Faith (www.dofo.org) and share the news with DJ (who helps oversee the orphanage). DJ says “Wes, funny I know a couple who have this same dream”!! Full of excitement I listen to DJ share about Mike and Becky Spitz who live in the community. Mike, happens to be from San Diego and an excellent surfer! Over the course of the last few month we have together began to build this dream.

The La Mision community center will open within a few weeks- Here is the model- Membership is completely free to the youth and orphans of the area, however they are required to provide 3 hours of community services per month to maintain their membership! So, HERE WE GO! The center will open with laptops,desktops,kindles with Spanish books on them, sewing center,English classes,ping pong table, foosball table,sofa lounge area,coffe/juice bar,and more!

Thanks to all who have shared this vision in Baja-  Mike & Becky Spitz, Jenn Dave & Cassie Calverts, Carol Matteson, Shane Engel, DJ & Lynette Schuetze,Rocky Detzel,and so many of the community members of La Mision Baja!

The dream now is, lets offer this same concept to San Diego, Orange County, and Tijuana! Let’s even DREAM bigger- Warehouse-complete with UrbanSkate4kids program and how about a wave rider machine? WHY NOT?

We are now at the point of seeking major funding so this DREAM can be fulfilled! Contact us direct if you can help-  619.931.4958   Wesley Stewart  UrbanSurf4kids-

A little background on the Ronald McDonald house- The Ronald McDonald House of San Diego is a “home away from home” for families with seriously ill children being treated at San Diego area hospitals.Since 1980, The Ronald McDonald House of San Diego has provided more than 140,000 nights of lodging to 14,000 families in need!

We had volunteered to bake cookies,cupcakes,and provide a small craft project for mother’s day. The week leading up to the event I received an email from Anna Young stating she wanted to volunteer for the event,so naturally I wanted to learn about who is “Anna”- So where do you go? FACEBOOK! I was stunned to learn that Anna is awaiting a phone call from UCLA for a DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT- You see Anna has a lung disease that has never been seen before- Anna struggles just to breath. She constantly is in and out of the hospital. When I had the chance to talk with Anna, she shared her desire- She said, “Wesley,I want to serve! It’s always been about me and my medical issues.”

To say that I was humbled would be an understatement! So, here we were last Saturday @ R.M.H with a group of foster youth eating cookie dough,Anna delightfully coloring with kids from the home,and me embracing the moment. There are not many moments better than the ones I experienced last Saturday.When you desire to serve and do it on a regular basis, you never know what opportunities will come. I cant wait to see what is NEXT! Learn more about Anna Young- and consider making a donation! (We have) http://www.giveforward.com/annaslungtransplant

Wesley Stewart
program director
UrbanSurf4kids

We returned to shore for sun protection and drinks then made our way to the SUP station where we held our land lesson to focus on safety tips and techniques. Then one by one, we headed back out for another paddle. After paddling back in, we enjoyed delicious pies donated by Newport Beach Z Pizza (WestCliff), California Pizza Kitchen, Al’s NYC Pizza, and The Pizza Bakery. The kids were laughing and sharing stories about their SUP experience over a cold root beer and a hot pizza, and throughout the day we enjoyed snacking on REED’s all natural Jamaican style ginger ale and root beer donated by the Original Ginger Brew Company.

After relaxing for a bit and fueling up on carbs, cookies and cake, we introduced Katerina, Nikki, Hillary and the many other volunteer students from the NAC Outrigger class. The leaders demonstrated paddling techniques and then loaded the kids into a double hull 12-person outrigger canoe for a crash course. The rookie crew left the shore looking a little timid and somewhat skeptical, but after 20 minutes, you could hear the crew shouting in synchronicity from a distance as they returned, “Paddle left!, Paddle right!”, the confidence in their unified voice grew as they got closer “Left, right, left, right!!!”. They came racing back to the lagoon looking like pros holding their paddles above their heads in victory as they coasted onto the shore.

After a long day the kids helped volunteers return the borrowed equipment to its appropriate place and everyone pitched in to cleanup. But the day wasn’t over yet – it just so happened that Legendary Big Wave Surfer Dave Kalama was holding a SUP clinic the same day, place and time as our event. So Dave met with the kids to sign autographs on some great photos of Dave surfing monster waves, donated by PrintingOC.com. Dave told the kids a little about how he became a big wave surfer and added what surfing means to him; “Surfing has been an awesome friend throughout my whole life. When times are good, I love surfing. When times are bad, it can be a place where I can go to find some happiness again.” We handed out the photos along with hats donated from the NAC to the kids. Dave was a class act, personalizing autographs for each kid. He even stayed around to take a couple group photos with us. On behalf of UrbanSurf4kids, I would like to personally thank Dave, Billy, Pam, our volunteers, and all donating supporters for coming together to make this an unforgettable day on the bay.

Please take a moment to view some photos from this event at http://s1166.photobucket.com/albums/q612/UrbanSurf4kids/

Aloha,

Mark Ralph
Volunteer Coordinator
UrbanSurf4kids.org – Orange County
(949) 297-8598 Office
(949) 355-6337 Cell

-April 4-9th Baja Mexico trip- Preparing our upcoming community center,cooking meals for local orphanages,planted a raised garden,surfing (of course!),and hosting a scuba diving class (Thanks to IB Divers http://www.ibdivers.com/)!

-April 21st San Diego Chapter held a surf camp in La Jolla! Almost 40 foster youth! We realized one of our goals set for 2012- Our first foster family from outside of California came to this event! (UrbanSurf4kids provided them 4 nights in a vacation condo with paddle board lessons & surf lessons!). Diego Rovira of the San Diego Sockers came out signed autographs and hung out for the entire day! Finally Cris Dobrosielski a master/pro fitness trainer gave an inspiring 10 minutes speech! His message “”Your story matters!” & “Focus must b on r choices frm This Moment Forward” really hit home.

-April 22nd Miami Chapter held a volunteer event with Ronald McDonald House. Foster youth making cookies & cupcakes for the children @ the R.M. House. How cool is that?

-April 28th Orange County Chapter held a paddle board event @ Newport Aquatic Center (Tough to find a better facility or group of people!). The volunteers spend the entire morning paddle boarding,kayaking,and how to fly in the outrigger canoes! However the highlight of this event was World Famous Big Wave Rider DAVE KALAMA taking out his time to speak with the kids! His message of having a healthy outlet to sustain you through good & bad was exactly what these foster youth needed to hear. He then took the time to sign an autograph to each one of the youth. http://www.newportaquaticcenter.com/

-April 28th San Diego Chapter partnered with Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter for a beach clean at Crown Point- Thanks to Roger Kube for taking a minute to talk to the group of foster kids (almost 30 of them attended!) about what Surfrider is all about! The day in San Diego was topped off by VIP invite to YouthJamz benefit concert- They arranged for a chance for all of the foster youth to meet the artist! Alexander Deleon of the band The Cab shared and Cassadee Pope shared a brief story of inspiration and overcoming obstacles! Exactly what these kids need! What really blew us away was Mat Musco aka Blackbear bought pizza for the kids! Class ACT! Thanks to all of the volunteers who served- Without question we have all helped to make an impact!

WHAT A MONTH! We want to take a minute and thank everyone who has helped! Which leads us to the word INFLUENCE! We may not dare to ride GIANT waves like Dave Kalama, or have the mental ability to push the limits like a Tom Jones, or the determination to train like Cris Dobrosielski. However, we all have the ability to influence and the youth we are working with are being impacted!
THANK YOU! http://www.tomjonesextreme.com/ http://www.davidkalama.com/ http://monumentalresults.com/

Influence “the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc.,”

Excited to announce Famous Big Wave Surfer “Dave Kalama” will stop by and autograph photos for the foster kids!

This is whats all about! Thanks DAVE!

http://www.davidkalama.com/

Best Regards,

Mark Ralph
Volunteer Event Coordinator
(949) 297-8598 Office
(949) 355-6337 Cell
(888) 448-7402 Fax

30+ Foster Youth slated to attend!