Gaza Surf Relief - Please Support

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http://www.levantinecenter.org/…aza_surf_relief.html

[=1][ 2]Project Gaza Surf Relief[/][/]

July 31, 2007, Los Angeles

To Whom It May Concern:

In response to the July 29th LA Times article entitled “Gaza Surfers Find Freedom in the Sea” by Louise Roug, I have decided to embark on a project to donate used/new surfboards and equipment to send over to Gaza. Surf boards for Gaza surfers are in painfully short supply, and often beyond economic reach. Our help is greatly needed.

http://www.latimes.com/

Ahmed Abu Hassan, 28, and Mohammed Jayab, 34, surfers who hang out at the

Al Deira beach in Gaza. (Wissam Nassar / For The Times)

[ Click here for the full text of Louise Roug’s story.]

This is a non-partisan drive whose purpose is to provide Palestinian youth with the feeling of joy and bliss achieved through surfing, and to provide an alternative way to escape life’s daily hardships. Contributions are welcome from everyone and everywhere in the world.

I am looking to coordinate the contribution of at least 25 used/new boards (must be in ride-able condition), leashes, replacement fins, duct tape (for repairs), warm water wax(new only), and rash guards (new or slightly used).

In addition, funding will be needed to bubble wrap the boards and send over the shipment. Any large monetary donation can be sent to the Levantine Cultural Center, whose help in this initiative will make your contributions fully tax-deductible.

Gaza Surf Relief Action Committee
[=1][ 1]Seweryn “Sev” Sztalkoper, Gaza Surf Relief Project Manager

Jordan Elgrably (Artistic Director – Levantine Cultural Center)

Erik Andersen (Webmaster – www.gazasurfrelief.com)

Dave Marshall (Executive Committee Member & Africa Surf Project Coordinator – The Surfrider Foundation, Malibu Chapter)

[/][/]

[=1][ 1] [/][/]

We are currently seeking a way for international donors to ship boards without incurring great cost. Haithem El-Zabri is working to locate an organization in Gaza that can be used to collect all boards and distribute them properly.

With the help of Louise Roug of the Los Angeles Times, I have contacted Hamada Qammar, a BBC correspondent in Gaza, who has helped us by offering to assist in transporting the shipment from Jerusalem to Gaza, and also by getting us in touch with a photojournalist who can provide pictures of the surf areas.

I also hope to be able to film a documentary of this project so that I may show all those that supported in donations to see how they’ve helped.

Please pass this on to anyone you know who surfs or who may like to help.

Thanks and please show your support as generously as you can.

Sincerely,

Seweryn “Sev” Sztalkoper

Project Manager

Gaza Surf Relief

310.804.1094

A donation button below follows below. To contribute by phone, call Levantine Cultural Center, 310.657.5511, or send checks to Levantine Center, 1012 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90035. Be sure to inscribe “Gaza Surf Relief” in the memo line of your check and include your address and phone number.

UPDATE 8/4/07:

We have already received 3 boards, with another 10 pledged in the Los Angeles Area, 10 pledged from Hawaii, 4 pledged from Costa Rica, and pledged donors from Australia and Portugal.

The responses from friends I’ve emailed and from a thread I’ve posted on A Small World, has been a great success, many are interested in helping and constant feedback on this project is coming in.

hello seweryn48

As a father of two daughters who love their surfing i was wondering if the women of Gaza will be allowed usage of the boards donated ?.I would love to make a donation but could not see myself doing so if there was any descrimination based on gender

cheers

danny

Danny,

We are going to tell our NGO that equal gender distribution should be the standard to which distribute. The beaches in Gaza are separated by a wall so that women can enjoy the ocean even if the more conservative men do not want to interact with them. We are sending soft top boards as well for those whom a regular board will be too challenging.

Seweryn

Hi there,

" Israeli life, Israeli lie" …hmmmm :frowning:

As an Israeli jewish citizen,

I wish you all luck with the project , I truly hope one

day all that shit between our leaders and nations will end

and we will be able to surf peacefully together.

If I could support in any way I would ,

but in the age of 24 the only thing I have is optimism.

good luck,

Lee Jordan,

Israel.

Lee,

Thanks for the wishes of support, they mean alot. I wish things were different and that we could all surf together, sometime in the future I would love to hold an Israeli and Palestinian surf competition. Shalom. Salam. These cultures are closer together than most people know. One of the surfers that was written about in 2005 by the Boston Globe, Lior Barda, if you know of him, tell him I welcome him to Los Angeles to come surfing with me, I know how precious a beach is to people like us.

Best Regards,

Seweryn

thanks for clearing that up

Mpcutback

Spread some Aloha in the middle east… they need it…

Quote:

Spread some Aloha in the middle east… they need it…

yeah, brah…i say try throw shakas and not bombs, ay?!

Hey Seweryn,

Are donated boards going to be tax deductible?

If so, I’d be interested in making a board.

Thanks

Rick

Boards cannot be tax deductible, only monetary donations.

Everyone…our new site is up now go to http://www.gazasurfrelief.com

Thanks,

Seweryn “sev”

That’s too bad.

Thanks, good luck.

It’s more too bad that people will only donate if they get something out of it other than helping people out.

Sorry you feel that way.

I offered a slightly used board(built by me) to these guys… Herb

Herb

I did in fact get your email, i replied but it kept sending me a mail delivery error.

I appreciate the support of donating a board.

How can we arrange pickup?

Thx

Seweryn

Thought I might get some sort of reply like that.

Sorry for jumping down your throat…Like in your end of the world…I’ve had to fight all my life to maintain my place in it,that is until people ,backed off,and left me alone.

I’ll delete the offensive post.Again sorry.Herb

malwitz…we do have a local shaper making a board for us, so if you wanted to make one great, but if you had a used one, that isn’t a problem either, unless you preferred making something with like a palestinian flag on it, that is something we’d love to donate…again…we can’t deduct it. and I don’t mean to sort you out with that comment, just maybe clarify it to other who may be thinking the same thing about donating a board and wondering if there is a deduction…

herb…no worries mate, just let me know if your still interested in donating the board.

Yes,

You can also PM me here.Herb

Herb, are you in the LA area?

Northeast Orange County…near enough to LA.