One Ocean Gala: The Surfrider Foundation’s Benefit In Montauk Raises Over $700K

The Surfrider Foundation held its annual One Ocean Gala — an evening dedicated to raising funds to protect the world’s oceans and beaches — on August 8 at The Crow’s Nest in Montauk. This year’s event raised more than $700,000. The funds raised at One Ocean directly support Surfrider’s primary pillars of coastal protection.

This year’s event honored Greg Long, a professional big wave surfer and passionate ocean conservation advocate. The event brought together over 350 donors, celebrities, media, and cultural icons who all share a passion for protecting the ocean.

The evening included craft drinks, a curated silent and live auction, a live set by Diplo, and a seated dinner prepared by The Crow’s Nest culinary team.

Funds support initiatives such as Surfrider’s Eastern Long Island Blue Water Task Force, which improves beach water testing, while the foundation is also expanding its Ocean Friendly Businesses network to eliminate single-use plastics, with partnerships on the South and North Forks, including Marram and The Dock in Montauk, Rosie’s Amagansett, and Hotel Moraine and The Halyard in Greenport. Surfrider aims to safeguard coastlines through its Climate Action Program, where the Eastern Long Island chapter uses dune grass plantings to address coastal erosion.