A warm welcome to our new official corporate partner, Gray Whale Spirits! Together, the Surfrider Foundation and Gray Whale share a deep connection to the coast and a belief that protecting our ocean, waves, and beaches takes all of us.
In 2026, we kicked off a three-year partnership with the California-born spirits brand, which was inspired by the remarkable migratory journey of the gray whale along the Pacific coastline. We set out to turn our shared connection to the coast into meaningful action, and what an impactful first year it's been!
Over the course of our partnership, Gray Whale's support will help advance Surfrider's goal to remove more than 750,000 pounds of trash and plastic from U.S. coastlines. Every cleanup, every volunteer, and every piece of waste removed brings us one step closer to accomplishing this goal.
From coast to coast, Surfrider and Gray Whale brought together volunteers, chapter leaders, brand employees, and local communities for five beach cleanups this year. Together, we engaged more than 300 volunteers and removed more than 380 pounds of trash –filling 150 bags along the way. And this is just the beginning.
Our first year together took us to five beaches across the country, each with its own community, character, and coastal challenges. Here's a closer look at each cleanup and the impact we made together.
We kicked things off on June 7 at Sea Cliff Beach in Santa Cruz, California, where the Surfrider Santa Cruz Chapter, Gray Whale employees, and local community members came together to remove 70 pounds of trash. The cleanup had some memorable moments, including dogs sporting Gray Whale bandanas and volunteers removing harmful fishing nets along with other debris from the coast. Afterwards, participants gathered at Sea Cliff Inn to connect and enjoy some Gray Whale.
For our next stop, we headed across the country to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where the Surfrider Cape & Islands Chapter and Gray Whale joined forces for a cleanup at Pleasant Road Beach. The volunteers removed 55 pounds of waste, including discarded fishing traps and even a left-behind firework. Following the cleanup, participants gathered at the renowned Pelham House Resort to celebrate the successful evening and raise a glass to the cleaner shores of the Cape.
Our East Coast journey continued in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where Surfrider and Gray Whale brought out more than 140 volunteers for a Friday summer morning cleanup! Together, the group removed more than 70 pounds of trash from the beach. The turnout was a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared commitment to protecting the ocean. Afterwards, participants gathered at Iron Whale to celebrate the experience and enjoy Gray Whale gin and vodka.
Back on the West Coast, Gray Whale teamed up with the Surfrider Los Angeles Chapter for a June 27 cleanup at Santa Monica Beach. Volunteers removed more than 70 pounds of waste, including more than 600 fragments of plastic. With sunshine overhead and volleyball games happening all around, the cleanup was a quintessential Southern California beach day –with a purpose. After the cleanup, participants headed to Perry's Beach Café to cool off and continue the celebration with Gray Whale cocktails.
For our final cleanup of the year, Gray Whale and the Surfrider Miami Chapter took an evening approach with a sunset cleanup at Miami Beach. More than 100 pounds of trash were removed, making it our biggest cleanup haul of our first year. The cleanup was followed by a movie night and gathering at The Palms Hotel & Spa, where volunteers celebrated and heard from the Surfrider Miami Chapter about its ongoing work to fight plastic pollution.
Thank you, Gray Whale, for a fantastic and impactful first year. Here's to the next chapter of our partnership and to cleaner, healthier beaches for all!
To learn more about Gray Whale Spirits, visit the brand's website at www.graywhalespirits.com.
Follow Gray Whale and the Surfrider Foundation on social media to stay updated on our partnership and our shared commitment to protecting the coast.