October 27, 2010
Publication title: sfgate.com, vol. -, Iss. -, pg. –
Place: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel Raises Money for Children with Autism with Third Annual Holiday Surfboard Auction
An amazing selection of surfboards will be auctioned off at the top Dana Point, California, hotel The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel during the Third Annual Holiday Surfboard Auction to benefit Surfers Healing, a surf camp which introduces children with autism and their families to the therapeutic properties of surfing.
The auction includes surfboards from such legends as Andy Irons, Dustin Baraca, Shane Beschan, and Clay Marzo, as well as music legend Sarah Mclachlan and renowned artists John Van Hamersveld and Dana Louise Kirkpatrick. Check out photos on Flickr.com
All items will be on display from Saturday, November 20 through December 31, 2010 with the bidding closing at noon on December 31, 2010. The online auction can be found at https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?auctionId=116348113.
Surfers Healing was founded by Israel and Danielle Paskowitz. Their son, Isaiah, was diagnosed with autism at age three. Like many autistic children, he often suffered from sensory overload–simple sensations could overwhelm him. The ocean was the one place where he seemed to find respite. A former competitive surfer, Israel hit upon an idea–with Isaiah on the front of his surfboard, and Izzy steering from the back, the two spent the day surfing together. Surfing had a profound impact on Isaiah. Israel and Danielle decided they wanted to share this unique therapy with other autistic children. They began to host day camps at the beach where autistic children and their families could be exposed to a completely new experience of surfing.
The Holiday Surfboard Auction is part of the top Dana Point California hotel The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel’s Community Footprints program and has raised more than $30,000. Community Footprints was created to encourage leadership in volunteerism, fundraising, product donations and mentoring programs at a local level. No project is considered too large or too small. Dedicated Ritz-Carlton Ladies and Gentlemen provide a wide range of support and services to their community, including fund-raising for local charities, reading to the blind, preparing and serving lunches at homeless shelters, donating books to schools and volunteering at food banks. The Ritz-Carlton Community Footprints stresses that the most important resource is not always money, but time.
Consistently ranked among the best resorts in the world, top Dana Point California hotel The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is located halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego and sits on a 150-foot bluff with panoramic white-water views of the Pacific Ocean.
