“No Shoes Reefs + Welcome To The Sandbar = REEF BALLS”
It’s not every day Brett from No Shoes Reefs asks to team up. We were honored to have Brett reach out to us a few months back to see how we could partner to help spread the love of the importance of Reef Balls and how they are changing the game in artificial reef environments. Brett knew we have a great relationship with the No Shoes Nation through Welcome To The Sandbar. We have been discussing a plan to help you all give back to the ocean and support one of Kenny’s charities. We have a history of organizing groups of Kenny supporters and fans for trips, tailgates and pre-parties before shows. Getting a group together to build and learn about Reef Balls just made sense. Now seemed like a perfect time, since we haven’t been able to see all of you on the tour yet, so we were absolutely in. So, we took a road trip about two-hours from our homes in Orlando to visit with Larry Beggs from Reef Innovations and Todd Barber with the Reef Ball Foundation to more learn about the process and to check out where all the magic happens.
As we all know, there is no better group of people, than the No Shoes Nation to help No Shoes Reefs further their mission. There are several partners working together to pull off the large scale efforts that are taking place. The Reef Ball Foundation was founded in 1993 and since then, in partnership with Reef Innovations, has built nearly a half-million Reef Ball habitats. Reef balls are designed to last over 500 years, each one contributing up to 400 pounds of marine biomass to our world’s oceans every year. That’s about 200,000 pounds of marine life per Reef Ball over its life expectancy. Since about 30% of that is fish, crabs, oysters and other things humans need, it’s a win for the fish and a win for people too. With No Shoes Reef’s support, the potential is unlimited.
“Together and along with BCT/CCA we are planning No Shoes Reef habitat projects, but also ways to embrace Kenny’s No Shoes Nation community, so they can plan trips to meet and be hands on building these habitats,” says Todd Barber, Chairman of The Reef Ball Foundation.
“For years, Kenny Chesney has demonstrated, again and again, his commitment to the environment and to helping people in need, not only through his words and music, but through his personal and financial support of charities such as his Love for Love City Foundation. Knowing of his countless contributions and concern for the environment, the Reef Ball Foundation is proud of its new partnership with Kenny and No Shoes Reefs. Music has a powerful capacity to bring people together in a common cause and to inspire us all to protect and preserve this amazing planet of ours and all the living things in it,” says Kathy Kirbo, Executive Director of The Reef Ball Foundation. “Our oceans are in so many ways the reality of who we are,” says Kenny Chesney. “When you spend time on them, around them, or just live anywhere, really, and dream of them, they hold a place of calm and strength in your soul. Because our global environment is so interconnected, it’s critical for all us to do what we can and support keeping the oceans healthy.”
While visiting Reef Innovations, we also learned about Eternal Reefs. An Eternal Reef combines a cremation urn, ash scattering and burial at sea into one meaningful, permanent environmental tribute to life. An Eternal Reef is a designed reef made of environmentally-safe cast concrete placed on the ocean floor as a permanent memorial of a life well lived. It’s really a special way to honor someone who loves the ocean.
So, we hope you have learned some cool things here today and we can’t wait to build some Reef Balls with you all! Stay tuned for more details and how you can join us!
#onereefballatatime #oceanhabitat #forreefssake #noshoesreefspeeps
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