The Surfrider Foundation’s annual One Ocean Gala returned to Montauk on August 8th, bringing together more than 450 supporters, cultural figures, and ocean advocates at The Crow’s Nest for an evening celebrating coastal conservation and raising critical funds to protect the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches.
This year’s event raised more than $700,000, fueling Surfrider’s ability to create impact across local, state, and federal levels. Funds raised through One Ocean directly support the organization’s coastal protection efforts, including improving water quality, reducing plastic pollution, advancing nature-based solutions for climate resilience, and protecting ocean ecosystems from harmful development.
Set against the East End coastline, guests enjoyed dinner from The Crow’s Nest culinary team, craft cocktails, live and silent auctions, and a performance by Diplo.
This year’s gala honored Greg Long, the celebrated big-wave surfer, longtime Surfrider member, and Global Ambassador, recognizing his decades-long commitment to ocean preservation and coastal stewardship. The evening also highlighted Surfrider’s local efforts, including water-quality monitoring through its Blue Water Task Force, beach cleanups, efforts to reduce single-use plastics, dune restoration, and advocacy for public beach access and the protection of East End coastal habitats.
The evening drew a notable mix of fashion, entertainment, and Hamptons personalities, including Bethenny Frankel, Julian Schnabel, Cynthia Rowley, Devon Lévesque & Nina Bartell, Christine Evangelista, Hunter Kohl, Taylor and Liev Schreiber, John Slattery and Talia Balsam, Selby Drummond and Steven Dubb, Rachelle and Sean MacPherson,and Jayma Cardoso, among others.
With its combination of beach culture, philanthropy, and star power, the One Ocean Gala once again made the case that protecting the East End’s natural beauty is a cause worth celebrating and supporting.
