On Saturday, August 17, ocean advocates gathered at Oceana’s 17th
annual SeaChange Summer Party in Laguna Beach, raising more than
$1.5 million to support the organization’s campaigns to protect and
restore the oceans in California and around the world. The event,
hosted by award-winning actor and Oceana Board Member
Ted
Danson, honored longtime Oceana supporter and SeaChange
co-founder
Valarie Van Cleave. Oceana’s new CEO
Jim Simon addressed the crowd for the first time
since stepping into the position in July and Grammy-award winning
singer-songwriter
Lisa Loeb treated guests to a
private concert, featuring hits including “Stay (I Missed You).”
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is
available by clicking on this link.
“We’re here because Oceana fights for the health of our oceans,
and all of the magnificent creatures that call them home,” said
Elizabeth Wahler, SeaChange co-chair and Oceana
Board Member. Fellow SeaChange co-chair Gabe
Serrato-Buelna added, “In just the last year, Oceana has
won victory after victory — and continues to campaign against
plastic pollution, destructive fishing practices, and more.”
At the event, Oceana highlighted more than 25 victories won
alongside its allies over the past year including convincing Amazon
to reduce its use of single-use plastics in North America; new
habitat protections in Canada, Mexico, and Europe; and several
actions in California to reduce whale and sea turtle entanglements
in commercial fishing gear.
“We need your help for the next wave of victories for our
oceans. Right now, there are numerous threats that impact the
fragile ecosystem right off our shore,” said
Danson. “Our own ‘Blue Serengeti’ — and other
ecosystems just like it around the world — could be lost forever
without Oceana’s decisive action.”
Oceana’s former CEO Andrew Sharpless introduced
honoree, Valarie Van Cleave, highlighting her
dedication to ocean conservation, from starting Oceana’s campaign
to fight seafood fraud to serving as chair of the organization’s
Board and co-founding the SeaChange Summer Party, which has raised
over $20 million in the past 17 years.
“I have a keen lifelong interest in the environment and a deep
appreciation for those people dedicated to conserving and restoring
the natural world, and that is Oceana’s sweet spot,” Van
Cleave told the crowd of 360 guests. “I invite you to join
me to continue to pay attention to what is happening in the oceans
both here and around the world and continue to help Oceana bring
back the integrity of the seas today, and for future
generations.”
Celebrities in attendance included Diane Lane, Oscar
Nuñez, Dennis Haysbert, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Sam
Trammell, Christina Ochoa, Blake Moynes, Rachel
Recchia, Sally Pressman, and others.
This year’s event was made possible by the generous support of
numerous distinguished local and international businesses and
philanthropists. Biossance, which has contributed over $600,000 to
Oceana since 2019, was the Presenting Partner.
Event corporate partners and sponsors included Pacific Coast
Partners the Southern California BMW Centers and Robert WAN;
SeaChange Partners Alec’s Ice Cream, Anker, Monique Bär, Michael
and Patricia Berns, Dennis and Carol Berryman, Bruce and Karen
Cahill, CHANEL, Anne Earhart, Giorgio Armani Corporation, Peter and
Julie Hill, LOEWE, Jacob Loveless and Kelly Brochu, Greg and
Barbara MacGillivray, Robert and Britt Meyer, Justin Pham and
Bonnie Lee, Steven and Shirley Quackenbush, Gena H. Reed, Steve and
Marisa Robbins, Louis and Laura Rohl, Kaira and Harley Rouda, Fred
and Wendy Salter, Gabe Serrato-Buelna and Byron Rabin, Sheets,
Paquette & Wu Dental Practice, Michael and Suzie Silvers, South
Coast Plaza, Jim and Julie Ann Ulcickas, Elizabeth Wahler, Valaree
Wahler, Uwe Waizenegger and Valarie Van Cleave, and Tim and Jean
Weiss.
For a full list of underwriters and partners, host committee
members, auction items, and more information about SeaChange and
Oceana visit: SeaChangeSummerParty.org/
Photos from the event are available here. Getty images are
available at this link.
Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization
dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding
abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in
countries that control one-quarter of the world’s wild fish catch.
With more than 300 victories that stop overfishing, habitat
destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of
threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceana’s
campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1
billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever.
Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world.
Visit Oceana.org to learn more.
Contact: Anna
Baxter, abaxter@oceana.org