Projects We Support Old
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 250,000 supporters, activists and members worldwide.
Kassia has long been a supporter of and activist for keeping our beaches clean. She has worked on several projects with the Surfrider Foundation and is a Surfrider Ambassador; working to help spread the word and work to keep our oceans clean. From hosting events, to leading local beach clean ups, Kassia works with Surfrider to make sure our beaches are as enjoyable as possible and advocate what can be done to participate in this movement.
KEEP A BREAST
The Keep A Breast Foundation™ is a nonprofit organization with a mission to empower young people around the world with breast health education and support. Since its inception in 2000, Keep A Breast has worked with young people to remove the shame associated with breasts and breast cancer health. Through various initiatives such as breast cast art exhibitions, the “Non Toxic Revolution” and "I love boobies!" campaign, Keep A Breast has opened up the dialog about breast cancer, and has proven to be a doorway to breast self-awareness and education.
After her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, Kassia became very passionate about helping to spread the word about breast cancer and breast health education, as well as coping and supporting with those who are affected by breast cancer. She participated in Keep A Breast Foundation's breast casting, surfed in their surf events, collaborated on a surf wax with Keep A Breast, and contributed photography for their magazine and other visual assets. She strongly supports the Keep A Breast movement to education young women about breast cancer.
To learn more about Keep A Breast Foundation, check out their site www.keep-a-breast.org.
EVERY MOTHER COUNTS
Every Mother Counts is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother. Every Mother Counts informs, engages, and mobilizes new audiences to take actions and raise funds that support maternal health programs around the world. Every Mother Counts supports programs in Bangladesh, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, and the United States that address three critical barriers to maternal health care: lack of education, transportation and supplies.
In 2013 Kassia joined Every Mother Counts founder, Christy Turlington Burns on a ‘Midwives For Haiti' trip where Kassia volunteered her photography skills, helping to document the training of midwives to educated people about the importance of supporting countries with fewer resources to ensure safer childbirths.
To learn more about Every Mother Counts work, visit .
Süga introduced the world's first yoga mat made entirely out of recycled wetsuits. Süga reengineered the yoga mat to feel better and perform better, while solving a pressing environmental problem - how to recycle non-biodegradable neoprene surfing wetsuits. Süga spent two years researching and developing a way to recycle wetsuits while improving the performance of the traditional yoga mat. Because Süga mats are manufactured from neoprene, they're uniquely closed-cell foam, which means they don't sponge up bacteria, sweat, dust, and dirt from yoga studio floors like other mats. Süga mats maintain their grippiness whether dry or wet. They also give non-biodegradable wetsuits a second life by keeping them out of landfills.
As an environmentalist, Kassia knew she needed to find a sustainable way to produce wetsuits, without destroying the environment.
When she discovered Süga she knew it was a perfect way to recycle scraps too small to recreate with. With a passion for yoga, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to give unused neoprene another life. KASSIA+SURF donated all unused scraps after completing from its first collection to Süga. Together they cooked up a batch of psychedelic yoga mats for all your zen moments.
THE LATITUDE PROJECT
The Latitude Project is an unconventional charity working throughout Latin America asking communities what they need and help build solutions that make sense. Founded by sisters, Alanna and Jennifer Tynan, The Latitude Project is a natural collision of exploration, play, and a desire to give back along the way. They explore what people need and work together to alleviate the stresses of poverty. Past projects have included re-roofing houses, solar light programs, building schools and implementing literacy programs. In addition to their needs-based projects, they run a special program called “See The Sea”, that emphasizes exploration, play, and the deep blue sea: taking people from rural communities to experience the beach for the first time.
In early 2016, The Latitude Project reached out to Kassia, inviting her to be part of the benefit series in an effort to raise money for their overhead project costs, they hosted a “Seas That Connect Us” in Victoria, New York and Los Angeles. The series is centred upon an ocean-inspired photo auction: unique pieces kindly donated by Kassia and a sea of other notable friends.