Dune Jewelry's Holly Daniels Christensen for Surfrider and Joslin Diabetes Center

Name:  Holly Daniels Christensen

What is your job? 

I am the Founder and creator of Dune Jewelry, the Original Beach Sand Jewelry Co®.  

Dune is a keepsake, collectible jewelry line handmade in Boston, Massachusetts using beach sand from thousands of locations worldwide spanning all 7 continents.  We celebrate travel and adventure by creating tangible reminders of those special moments.  Each piece of jewelry is handmade and custom made to order using the customer's choice of beach sand.  To see the Dune collections and for more information visit www.dunejewelry.com.

What social causes are most important to you? Keeping our beaches clean and healthy is very important to me.  It is my opinion that we all have a responsibility to respect our coastline and keep it clean not only for our own enjoyment but especially for the vast amount of sea life that lives in our oceans.   I am also extremely passionate about finding a cure for diabetes, specifically Type 1 Diabetes, because I lost my Dad to diabetes complications at a very young age

Extreme Adoption: Gus Kenworthy and the Sochi Pups

Your name and Job? Gus Kenworthy - I am a professional skier. I compete in slopestyle, halfpipe and big air. This year I took home the silver medal in the debut freeskiing event at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. 

What social causes are most important to you?

 I'm a big supporter of gay rights. People really bother me. I've never understood why people are opposed to gay marriage; to me it's less a gay rights issue as much as it is a human rights issue. 

Brett “Puck” Patterson Helping the Homeless in San Diego

Name: Brett “Puck” Patterson         

What is your job? I work as a project assistant in the Admissions Department at San Diego Miramar College. I own my own photography and web development company. I play music with The Whiskey Circle.

What social causes are most important to you? I am very passionate about education reform and homelessness issues.

What charity do you support – and how? The main charity that I support is Father Joe’s Villages (FJV). FJV is California’s largest homeless residential services provider offering housing, meals, counseling and childcare to San Diego’s homeless population.

I have helped plan fundraising events, written blog posts, drafted donation emails, taken photos at events, scheduled guided tours and coordinated media coverage.


Why do you have a passion for this one in particular, is there a personal tie? San Diego has the 3rd largest population of homeless in America and the largest population of homeless veterans in the US. As a San Diegan I feel it’s my duty to help my neighbors in need.

Is there a particular way you would want to encourage readers to be involved? You can always donate to FJV or to a homeless shelter in your area, but the best way to help a homeless person out is to not treat them like weird, dirty street trash or an inconvenience to your daily life. Instead, just treat them like a normal person and offer them something they can use (clean socks, some food, a warm blanket, an open ear and a smile), don’t just hand them cash and don’t just ignore them. Even a smile and wave is better than staring the opposite direction as you walk by.

How would you define social responsibility? Society is responsible for taking care of itself; people should show respect and care for each other and the planet.

Do you have any tattoos that relate to your work? I have a banner that runs across my chest with birds and flowers that reads “Mark 12:30”. The verse says, “Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, strength and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Regardless of your religious beliefs, the world benefits when we treat others with love and respect.

Your other tattoos? I have too many to list quickly, but my favorite one is my right arm sleeve. It’s a vulture flying in front of the moon with a snake in his talons.

Also, Chapter One Tattoo in Ocean Beach is the only place to get tattooed in San Diego.
 

Little Tribe Children's Foundation

Name:  Joey Damico

Your job? I own and manage several small businesses.  Green Room Enterprises, a green energy consulting sole proprietorship, Saturn Man's Vapor Planet, a personal vaporizer boutique, and Little Tribe Children's Foundation,  a 501c3 non profit that raises money for art and music therapy programs for severely handicapped and terminally ill children.

What charities are most important to you, and why? The aforementioned Little Tribe Children's Foundation primarily, but I also am a surfer and am active in keeping beaches clean, so I love Surf Rider.

How can people get involved? I would love people to visit our website and spend sometime really seeing what art and music therapy programs provide children in need, and the profound effect it has on the healing process.  Also, Saturday, November 22nd, we are holding a day-long benefit event in Sebastopol, CA -- you can learn more here.

How do you define social responsibility? Social responsibility to me is simply awareness and consciousness for things outside of one's self.  Being selfless, being of service.

About your tattoos? My tattoos pertain to mythical dragons, and a Phoenix for rebirth, as well as my children, and love of the ocean.  They were all chosen carefully and mostly designed by Cristian Nolan of Budda Palm in Sebastopol , Ca., who has an amazing ability for taking your verbal vision and feelings and creating art with his hands from that vision.

Ronnie Simmons for Suicide Prevention Australia

Name: Ronnie Simmons

What is your job?
I’m a professional guitarist, currently hired to play lead guitar for The Raskins on tour with Motley Crue and Alice Cooper in the USA for Motley Crue’s Final Tour.

What social causes are most important to you? Suicide prevention.

What charity do you support – and how?

Suicide Prevention Australia, I donate what I can where I can. I urge you to do the same online.

David “Rev” Ciancio - Events for Good

Name: David “Rev” Ciancio

What is your job? Director of Marketing for Burger Maker

What social causes are most important to you? Feeding the Hungry, Saving Pets

What charities do you support – and how?

• I help Food Bank NYC by producing the “NYC Good Beer Passport,” a promotion that brings together bars in NYC to get people checking out local bars and local beers.
• When you buy a t-shirt from Mythical Creature Butcher Shop, proceeds go to the Food Bank.
• I am a part of The Food Film Festival and in each town it happens in, we donate to a different local charity.

Remy Conner: Getting OUT of an Ice Bucket

Name: Remy Connor

What is your job? Magician, Actor, Public Speaker

What social causes are most important to you? General Equality

What charities do you support – and how? ALSA, Relay for Life, World Wildlife Fund

I donate time, money and raise awareness. For ALS - Remy Connor does an escape for the ice bucket challenge. With legs and feet bound, he steps into a garbage bag filled with ice water and escapes.

Why do you have a passion for this one in particular, is there a personal tie? My grandmother passed away from cancer.

Jason Jani

Name: Jason Jani

What is your job? I am a Marquee Open Format DJ and the Founder of the SCE Event Group and Snapshot Photobooths.  In 2000, I founded the SCE Event Group that caters to couples, event planners, celebrities, brands and corporations in search of the entertainment industries finest pairing of talent and technology.

With over 15 years of nightlife and private event industry experience, I am a multi-faceted artist, event producer, remixer and marquee open format DJ.   I am on the go constantly! I travel the New York tri-state area and all over the world to help people celebrate life at social, nightlife and private events.

What social causes are most important to you? There are so many social causes that are important to help however; I tend to gravitate to causes that help benefit kids in some way.  I am a father of two healthy, beautiful kids, so anything to do with the life of a child really hits home for me and I want to do all I can to help those particular organizations.

When A Picture Saves A Life

Name: Jorge Bendersky

What is your job? Dog groomer to the stars

What charities do you support – and how?
NSALA (North Shore Animal League America)
Greater Good
One Picture Saves a Life

I support animal welfare organizations by giving grooming workshops to educate about the importance of grooming as a tool for early detection if most health issues helping low income families to keep pets healthy at lower cost, reducing the number of dogs being surrendered to shelters due to high vet bills.  I also spend time teaching grooming to shelter volunteers around the country.

Sarah Kidder: Designed For Good

Name:Sarah Kidder  

What is your job?  I’m a certified interior decorator and I’ve owned my own design business for the last 5 years.

What social causes are most important to you? Inequality (LGBTQ rights, especially) and giving back to the community are causes I’m most passionate about.

Vanessa Van Noy -- "I like to “put boots on the ground” for my local community"

Name:  Vanessa Van Noy

What is your job?  Yoga Instructor

What social causes are most important to you?  Being a dedicated yogi and vegan, compassion is my passion, especially animal causes.  My husband and I have rescued all 7 of our pets (3 pit mixes and 4 cats).  We are both active not only in companion animal rescue but farm animal rescue as well.

What charities do you support – and how?  I support some large national groups such as PETA and Best Friends Animal Society.  However, I like to “put boots on the ground” for my local community.  I volunteer time at the local Humane Society in Tinton Falls NJ and previously at the Catskill Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties NY.  I have recently organized food drives for the local SPCA and County Food Bank.  My most recent event is to benefit 180NJ “Turning Lives Around”, an organization that houses and cares for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

John Eisenhart: Social responsibility is not only “doing the right thing” but throwing a certain amount of conviction into the mix.

 Name and occupation: John Eisenhart/Chef

What social causes are most important to you? Homelessness and hungry youth

What charities do you support – and how? I am a long supporter of P:ear (a nonprofit that aims to creatively mentor homeless youth) and Friends of the Children where I donate food and time to fundraising events and luncheons.

Why do you have a passion for this one in particular, is there a personal tie? Children shouldn’t starve. I lean towards this cause because kids can’t support themselves (animals too)!

Is there a particular way you would want to encourage readers to be involved? Find a passion and start realistically (small). Go from there!

How would you define social responsibility? Social responsibility is not only “doing the right thing” but throwing a certain amount of conviction into the mix.
 
Quick list of tattoos/mention artists if you’d like: 
Wacky Packages (above) Paul Zenk/Infinity Tattoo
Raven on stained glass – Marcus Pacheco
Sonic Youth scarecrow – Marcus Pacheco 

Ernie Reyes for Dignity Kids

Name: Ernie Reyes Jr.

What is your job? Martial Artist / Actor - VP of Dignity Kids Inc.

What social causes are most important to you?
Youth development, healthy active lifestyles, and STEM.

What charities do you support – and how?
I was named Vice President of Dignity Kids Inc. in 2013 with the mission to educate and empower youth through fitness-based programs that teach STEM concepts, encourage healthy lifestyles, and promote positive youth development through opportunities to learn, succeed, and belong.

Justin Tranchita for World Vision

Name: Justin Tranchita

What is your job? Country Singer and Television Personality at Discovery Channel's Game of Pawns TV show.

What social causes are most important to you? For me anything that benefits needy kids is always where my heart gets pulled.

Diabetes Research Institute Foundation

Name: Benno C. Schmidt III

What is your job? : Media Director, Verus Financial LLC, dLife Anchor & Correspondent, and host for the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation’s DRI TV.

What social causes are most important to you?

 All things related to curing type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and to helping socioeconomically challenged kids, teens, and young adults.

Inked For A Cause: Laurie Elyse

Name: Laurie Elyse

What is your job? Design & Founder of Laurie Elyse Design, LLC
 

What social causes are most important to you? Animal welfare, arts and culture, environment, health science and medical research.

What charities do you support – and how?

TheNational Multiple Sclerosis Society: I produced a line of swimwear with a percentage of profits donated to them, as well as holding gallery functions with profits from sales going to the organization.

Anne Hodder: Enabling Others with Chrysalis in LA

Name: Anne Hodder

What is your job?

I own a boutique PR firm called Hodder Media, which handles marketing, PR, copywriting and other creative services for a variety of industries – but I specialize in the business of pleasure. Pleasure products, specifically.

What social causes are most important to you?

Unless I’m of service in some way, I feel kind of useless, so over the years I’ve connected with a few social causes. Supporting and promoting the arts and sharing them with those who might not otherwise have had the opportunity has been a big one. I was fortunate to have had parents who believed strongly in the power of art and helped me cultivate my own appreciation – and definition – of it without shoving it down my throat, and I feel very passionate about paying it forward, in a sense.

Lisa Jakub for ASPCA

Name: Lisa Jakub

What is your job? I’m a writer. Former actor. Current wife, yogi and dog-mom

What social causes are most important to you? So many social causes are critical. I used to get paralyzed by my desire to help everything – and ended up doing nothing! But then I thought about what had a major impact on my life, and it’s our senior rescue dog, Grace. We adopted her from the SPCA a couple of years ago when she was about 7 years old. She is a wonderful friend and profound teacher in lessons on joy, forgiveness and presence. 

Alexis DeJoria for Grow Appalachia and Nevada Health Centers’ Mammovan

Name: Alexis DeJoria

What is your job? Driver, Kalitta Motorsports Patrón XO Cafe nitro Funny Car

What social causes are most important to you? Grow Appalachia & anything relating to women’s health. Most recently, I’ve gotten involved with the Nevada Health Centers’ Mammovan program.

How do you support these? Grow Appalachia- I donate money and spread awareness of the organization with my family whenever possible.

Nevada Health Centers- I worked with this organization to bring their mammovan out to our most recent Las Vegas NHRA race and provide free mammograms for any woman in attendance throughout all three days of the race weekend, regardless of whether or not they had health insurance.

Bullying: We're Kicking It

Name: Chef Barret Beyer

What is your job? Private/ Personal Chef

What social causes are most important to you? Just about anything that can leave a positive impact for our youth to see.

What charity do you support – and how? Reality Rally which is taking place in April in CA funds raised go to Michelle’s Place Breast Cancer Research. I am currently raising funds for this Charity to help people get early detection with Breast Cancer.  I am also Spokesperson for “Bullying We’re Kicking It" A Rocky Marciano Organization

Xander Demos: Metal Four Paws

Name: Xander Demos

What is your job? Rock Star/Metal Shred Guitar Virtuoso

What social causes are most important to you? I believe in the concept of working hard and playing hard.  The more you work hard and take care of business for yourself, the more you can enjoy life and take care of the ones that mean the most to you. Animal causes are nearest and dearest to my heart, because they are truly beautiful, innocent creatures, and we should be their faithful guardians.

What charities do you support – and how? The ASPCA, Humane Society, Animal Rescue League.  I have earmarked a portion of the proceeds from my album sales to donate to these charities.  I’ve been lucky enough to be able to give back to the animals that mean so much to me.

Qiana Martin: Eat Soccer

Name: Qiana Martin

What is your job? I am an international athlete, global soccer ambassador, owner of Eat Soccer and Fila Body Toning Spokesmodel.

What social causes are most important to you? I am committed to causes that support youth development.

What charities do you support – and how? I donate my time, talent and funds to support initiatives with Sporty Girls Inc., Soccer in the Streets, the Martin Luther King Recreation Center, and The Anderson Monarchs.