November 7 – San Diego Coastkeeper Honors 2011 Coastal Champions at Ocean Gala

Around 300 registered guests help raise $100,000 at environmental fundraiser

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 7, 2011 – On Saturday, San Diego Coastkeeper honored Ashok Israni, CEO of Pacifica Companies, and David Alvarez, San Diego City Councilmember, as the 2011 Coastal Champions at the organization’s 15^th Annual Ocean Gala. The awardees were honored at the event with nearly 300 guests, who helped raise more than $100,000.

During the event, Coastkeeper recognized Pacifica, a real estate investment company, for building projects that are models of sustainability in coastal development and for its role in two approvals for the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan. Chair of the San Diego City Council’s Natural Resources & Culture Committee, Councilmember Alvarez earned recognition for his efforts in ensuring that San Diego relies on technologies providing the community with alternative sources of water in the most environmentally responsible way.

Gale Filter, San Diego Coastkeeper’s new executive director closed the evening with his first formal address to the organization’s supporters.

“I am Coastkeeper. You are Coastkeeper. We are Coastkeeper,” Gale told the guests. “Together we are leading the movement for clean water in San Diego.”

Throughout the evening, the guests enjoyed fine and sustainable dining, 60 “going green” themed live and silent auction items, an art show of local artists’ work and the presence of city, county and school board officials. Surrounded by luxury décor at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter, the environmentally conscious attendees celebrated Coastkeeper’s movement to protect inland and coastal waters.

Event sponsors include: Liquid Environmental Solutions; Ecology Auto Parts; Hunter Industries and David Welborn & Ann Hunter-Welborn; San Diego Gas & Electric; IBEW Local 569/United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 230/Sheet Metal Workers Local 206/ NECA; KD Development; Pacifica Companies; Regency Centers Corporation; San Diego County Regional Airport Authority; Toma Sol Café; Unified Port of San Diego; Waitt Foundation. Generous contributions to make the evening look, taste and feel its best came from IKEA San Diego, Kona Brewing Company, Schmidt Design Group and OneHOPE Wine.

For more information, visit San Diego Coastkeeper’s website localhost/sdcoastkeeper or official Ocean Gala website www.oceangala.org.

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Founded in 1995, San Diego Coastkeeper protects the region’s bays, beaches, watersheds and ocean for the people and wildlife that depend on them. We balance community outreach, education, and advocacy to promote stewardship of clean water and a healthy coastal ecosystem. For more information, visit San Diego Coastkeeper online at https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org.