Founder and Executive Director
I get the most joy out of building community: meeting and connecting with people, learning about the world, and experiencing all it has to offer. Surfing has been such a wonderful way to authentically connect with others who are seeking the same pure exchange.
Surfing is also such a potent source of health, in all senses of the word. Surfing is touted as being a "lifestyle" for a reason. It truly improves all facets of one's being, healing the physical, mental, and spiritual, by forcing you to tangle with nature in its purest, most unbridled form. Surfing has given me so much, and I want to share it with as many people as possible.
If you ask anyone that knows me, they'll tell you how badly I've always wanted to see more girls out in the lineup. With surfing being a male-dominated sport, my hope is to encourage girls to fall in love with surfing, as I have, by creating an environment for us to feel free to take risks, to send it, to be messy, goofy, scrappy, and entirely ourselves. This organization is for everybody. It's important to me that our surf camp is full of warmth, fun, growth, and support for both girls and boys, to change the culture through leading by example.
My first international surf trip was a special gift that I will never forget. We went to Peru, where I met the most wonderful, kindhearted people, who showed me the history and significance of their beautiful home Chicama. I couldn't help but notice there were very few locals in the lineup. Local shredder Alberto Palma relayed to me that the biggest barrier to entry is purchasing a board and wetsuit. He told me about Chicama Surf Terapia, where he teaches local kids to surf.
This is what inspired me to found Moonbeam. Local kids of world-class breaks seldom get to enjoy the gem in their own backyard, and I'd love to see that change one donation at a time.
