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.
Our amazing sponsors include the Jay Moriarity Foundation, The Go Big Project, Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop, Whole Foods of Captiola/Santa Cruz, KDON 102.5, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, 3D Construction, Pono Hawaiian Grill and of course Jimbo Phillips Graphix.
