When we started Grind Out Hunger 8 years ago I could have never imagined that my action sports family would champion childhood hunger so feverishly. One by one as skaters, surfers, snowboarders and musicians became aware of the atrocity that kids were going hungry in our own town they didn’t hesitate to step up.
To end hunger we need the whole community, hungry people are not just going to go away. 20% of all homeless people are working everyday and then sleeping in train stations, bus stops and wherever they can. Kids are showering in 7-11 sinks, kids are watching their parents not eat. Does this piss you off? I can tell you the hunger fighters we have are dedicated to making change. We are looking for volunteers this night click HERE if you want to be a hunger fighter for the night.
Our partner The Go Big Project led by award winning film maker Rocky Romano and his digital warriors are committed to bringing awareness and a solution. We need you in this fight now more than ever. Please join us at The Red Balloon Party Saturday April 28th. Click HERE to get involved, advocacy is our biggest asset and if everyone screams form the rooftops NO MORE KIDS GOING HUNGRY….we might just have a chance.
I want to thank all the people/businesses that support Grind Out Hunger…this is our year to turn the tides and dent the universe. One person can make a difference. Link them up and they can change the course.
Please enjoy the the teaser for The Red Balloon Party and if you cannot make it you can make a donation HERE.
FEATURING: MAVERICK MOMENTS: The 2011/12 Mavericks Season Awards Santa Cruz Premier!
An Insane Highlight Show of This Seasons Waves & Wipeouts Including:
• Bomb of The Year •
• Barrel of The Year •
• Wipeout of The Year •
• The 51/50 Award •
• Photo of The Year •
• Male Performance of The Year •
• Female Performance of The Year •
• The Mavericks Legend Award •
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS: • 102.5 KDON Morning Madhouse • • Actress/Model Sara Kova • Confirmed Big Wave Athletes:
• Ken “Skin Dog” Collins •
• Nic Lamb •
• Flea •
(more to come)
On Sunday April 22 Grind Out Hunger is having its first ever Youth Service Day at Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop. So, what does “Youth Service Day” actually mean? We are trying to rally up any and ALL youth hunger fighters to come on over to the Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop to skate the indoor ramps and raise awareness about Grind Out Hunger.
Joey Hernandez (Empire Entertainment), Danny Keith (Grind Out Hunger), Rocky Romano (The Go Big Project), and Chriz Nuñez (Miami Ink/Ink Master) at Maverick Moments Screening Saturday Night.
What can only be described as a night to be remembered, started out with torrential downpours. That did not stop hundreds of people turning out in their Saturday finest to support Grind Out Hunger‘s roll out of Surf as one of three new divisions. We called up Grind Out Hunger partner Timmy Hunt of Pono Hawaiian Grill and he gladly whipped up PuPu’s for 150 people, ” You know Pono Hawaiian Grill supports every Grind Out Hunger event regardless, lets do this brah!” It’s fairly obvious that people are moved to combat childhood hunger and will do whatever it takes to bring awareness.
Ken “Skindog” Collins in his support of feeding kids, donated hundreds of dollars of Volcom Gear to be given away over the course of the evening. “The fact that we have any kids let alone 1 in 4 going hungry is not going to fly with me, we are going to hit this head on and beat childhood hunger”.
The Go Big Project‘s CEO Rocky Romano approached founder Danny Keith and asked the question…we want in, how can we do it? Literally at that moment the surf division was born (another Jimbo Phillips masterpiece). With that came the opportunity to partner with the Maverick Moments docuseries about the gladiators of big wave surfing and the 4 to 5 times it breaks a year. The 2011-2012 season produced and Saturday night was the unveiling of the small films that make up Maverick Moments.
As stated in the Santa Cruz Patch article, both The Go Big Project and Grind Out Hunger put together a night and invited all the right people to attend and hear the message…The declaration of war on childhood hunger in Santa Cruz County. A couple of those people were Joey Hernandez CEO of Empire Entertainment and Chris Nuñez of Miami Ink/Ink Master fame mixed in with numerous Big Wave Surfers, Shawn Dollar, Anthony Tashnick, Nic Lamb, Andreas Flores and Tyler Fox.
About 200 people gathered together Saturday night at the R. Blitzer Gallery to watch the premier of The Go Big Project's "Maverick Moments: Danger" film.
Brian Laing CEO Hive Media and The Deadliest Catch Video Game; Eric Oejten of Empire Entertainment; Elizabeth Gummere President of the Santa Cruz Film Festival; Robert Blitzer of R. Blitzer Gallery; Jason “J-Willz” Williams and Jesse Corona of Ribsys Nickel; DJ Rudy B; Shawn Hatjes Photography and Surf Photographer Ryan “Chachi” Craig. Over all about 200 people filtered in and out over the evening at the R. Blitzer Gallery.
Danny Keith, Nic Lamb, and Rocky Romano.
Fans were able to hang out with the pro’s and the Miami Celebs and watch “Danger” part of the Maverick Moments documentary series. All of this was a precursor to the Mavericks Invitational Festival being held March 31st in Half Moon Bay which the Grind Out Hunger ramps will be a part of amongst some of the best big wave surfers. This night they will reveal multiple awards to be given to the surfers that got the best wave, best wipeout and many others. Please visit Mavericks Invitational Festival website and purchase your advance tickets and merchandise. Also please show up March 31st and support the event that is supporting Grind Out Hunger.
Chris Nuñez of Miami Ink/Ink Master and Grind Out Hunger Founder Danny Keith
The night also brought about some deep discussions about fighting childhood hunger nationwide with Chris Nuñez of Miami Ink/Ink Master and Grind Out Hunger Founder doing a hand shake deal to take Grind Out Hunger to Miami ASAP and work from the East Coast to the West Coast until no child goes hungry. Joey Hernandez CEO of Empire Entertainment was right there with Chris stating that no kid should go hungry and there are a new group of warriors ready to make sure we win this war.
Grind Out Hunger has blossomed from a skateboarding based charity to one that represents the lifestyle of the independent mindset. Skater, Surfers and Snowboarders united with Musicians (Jimbo Phillips logo dropping soon) have pledged one by one to fight childhood hunger locally and move nationally county by county.
Jason "J-Willz" Williams and Jesse Corona of local band Ribsys Nickel supporting Grind Out Hunger and The Go Big Project.
Current Hunger Fighters Snowboarder Marissa Hushaw and Skater Zane Keith are in full swing and currently Grind Out Hunger is signing Ken “Skindog” Collins and Nic Lamb two big wave gladiators that will have their own Grind Out Hunger merchandise landing soon. The newest division Musician will soon be added with bands dedicated to fighting childhood hunger just like their Skating, Surfing and Snowboarding counterparts. Take a look at the pic above…yep the best bands are already stepping up and getting involved and Ribsys Nickel would be an awesome partner (hint).
The future of Grind Out Hunger looks bright as the partnerships are beginning to form with one main focus…destroy childhood hunger. Stay tuned as digital media gets involved and we begin to tell the story that most do not want to hear….Kids going hungry. Coming to your T.V. very soon.
Extra special thanks to the nights sponsors, R. Blitzer Gallery, Pono Hawaiian Grill, DJ Rudy B, Volcom Clothing, Santa Cruz Film Festival, all The Go Big Project employees, the Grind Out Hunger volunteers, Cafe Mare, KK the bartender, all the people that came out and supported feeding kids and of course a HUGE THANKS to Big Cat and Anthony who were our bodyguards all night long making sure no one got out of line.
Special thanks to Jimbo Phillips for providing the iconic fork over concept, so far we have Surf, Skate, Snow and now Music is about to be revealed.
Support Grind Out Hunger & have your picture taken with some of the best Big Wave Surfing Athletes in the world.
Volcom Gear Giveaway!
Full Bar
In conjunction with Grind Out Hunger, the R. Blitzer Gallery, and the annual California Grown BBQ (the bbq starts at 12pm outside of the Gallery and California Grown shop)
So, we just sat down for coffee with Kimberly Moriarity of The Jay Moriarity Foundation and had a lovely chat under the Santa Cruz sun. After talking Grind Out Hunger for a bit we explained to Kim that we were looking to figure out a way to build our Grind Out Hunger Facebook fan base. We want to do this by giving the community an incentive, a reason, a purpose…to click one little button.
Kim, without hesitation, responded to that request with a proposal:
We talked logistics of the campaign and agreed that we would set a goal of 3,000 meals.
If 1 like = 4 meals that means we have until March 31st to get 750 additional likes on our fan page.
Right now we are at 2,180 fans and we need to get to 2,930 fans by March 31st. 8 days. Think we can do it?
Here’s what you can do to help:
1. Go to www.facebook.com/grindouthunger and click “like” on the top right corner. (Or click the “like” button directly below)
PRESENTS:
So, we just sat down for coffee with Kimberly Moriarity of 
