Santa Barbara Channelkeeper to host 19th annual Blue Water Ball

GOLETA, California—The 19th annual Blue Water Ball returns to Santa Barbara on March 16 and will be hosted by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper. This year’s fundraiser is expected to attract more than 250 ocean enthusiasts, business owners, community leaders and public leaders.

Environmentalists, sailors, scientists and swimmers have traditionally attended the annual fundraiser; this year’s event includes live music, silent auction, reception featuring local beer and wine, and a dinner.

Rick Ridgeway, the vice president of public engagement for Patagonia, will serve as the fundraiser’s keynote speaker.

“During his 14-year tenure at the Patagonia, Rick Ridgeway has worked with teams to develop and launch environmental and sustainability initiatives within the company,” Channelkeeper staff stated in a released statement about the fundraiser. “He was also the founding chairman of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and is recognized as one of the world’s foremost mountaineers.

“Rick has produced and directed many adventure shows for television, authored six books and magazine articles featured in Outside, National Geographic and Harvard Business Review, and was honored by National Geographic with its ‘Lifetime Achievement in Adventure’ award,” the statement continued.

Channelkeeper hosts the Blue Water Ball to raise money for its mission to protect and restore Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds.

The fundraiser’s action features several items, including art and jewelry, vacation experiences, local food/wine and ocean/outdoor merchandise.

Contact Debra McCarty at debra@sbck.org or 805-563-3377 ext. 2 for more information about the event.

Deckers Outdoor Corp. is located at 250 Coromar Drive in Goleta.