Sea of Love: Celebrities looking to turn back tide
By Daily Press staff
SM PIER — Celebrities and big time spenders descended on the Santa Monica Pier Thursday to save the beaches from further destruction.
Celebrities, business leaders and the environmental community supported Heal the Bay’s 13th annual “Bring Back the Beach,” a high-profile fundraiser that attracts 1,000 of LA’s elite. The event generates nearly a half million dollars in proceeds for local ocean wellness programs. Heal the Bay, a Santa Monica-based nonprofit organization, has worked to make Southern California coastal waters safe and healthy for people and marine life since 1985.
“As a non-profit organization, our budget depends entirely upon the generosity of the public and our corporate partners,” said Heal the Bay Executive Director Dr. Mark Gold.
As part of the live auction portion of the evening, Ford Motor Company donated one of California’s first Ford Escape Hybrid SUVs, giving attendees the chance to own the industry’s first hybrid SUV months before it’s on the market.
Featuring musical entertainment from surfer/songwriter Jack Johnson, who recently earned a platinum record for his Brushfire Fairytales album, “Bring Back the Beach,” included a live and silent auction, dinner, and each year plays host to a collection of Hollywood celebrities and Southern California notables.
Celebrities included Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Seinfeld”); producer/director Garry Marshall (“Pretty Woman”, “Laverne & Shirley”); actor Ed Harris (“Pollack”); actress Wendie Malick (“Just Shoot Me”); actor Jack Klugman (“The Odd Couple”); actor Lou Diamond Phillips (“La Bamba”); actor Hector Elizondo (“Chicago Hope”, “Pretty Woman”); actress Amber Valletta (“Raising Helen”); actor Kyle Chandler (“Early Edition”); actor Ingo Rademacher (“General Hospital”) and guest auctioneer Ken Howard (“The White Shadow”).
The event also showcased recipients of the organization’s “Walk the Talk” Award, presented to community leaders who champion environmental issues. This year’s honorees include Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn; HBO Chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht; actor/director Rob Reiner; former State Secretary of Resources Mary Nichols; Save Open Space Founder Mary Wiesbrock; Congressman Brad Sherman; Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks; L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky; State Assemblywoman Fran Pavley; State Senator Sheila Kuehl; environmental activist Mati Waiya; community leader Joe Behar; Calabasas City Councilman Dennis Zine and Calabasas City Councilman Dennis Washburn.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 5, 2004. Read the original PDF.