On August 8, Surfrider Foundation’s annual One Ocean gala returned to The Crow’s Nest in Montauk, bringing more than 350 supporters together in celebration of—and support for—the world’s oceans and coastlines.
Against a backdrop of sweeping coastal views, guests gathered for dinner by The Crow’s Nest culinary team, craft drinks, silent and live auctions, and a live DJ set by Diplo. At the heart of the evening was Surfrider’s ongoing mission to protect the ocean, waves and beaches through a combination of local action and national advocacy.
The evening raised more than $700,000 to support Surfrider’s work at the local, state and federal levels. Funds from One Ocean directly benefit the organization’s core areas of coastal protection, including water quality, plastic pollution, climate resilience and ocean conservation.
That work has a particularly strong presence on the East End. Surfrider’s volunteer-run Blue Water Task Force conducts water-quality testing at more than 80 locations across eastern Long Island, while its Ocean Friendly Gardens program creates nature-based landscapes that help filter runoff, build biodiversity and strengthen climate resilience.
Through its Ocean Friendly Businesses network, Surfrider also works with East End partners including Marram and The Dock in Montauk, Rosie’s Amagansett, Hotel Moraine and The Halyard in Greenport to reduce single-use plastics. In 2025, regional volunteers removed 439 pounds of trash from eastern Long Island beaches through year-round cleanups.
Protecting the coastline itself remains another priority. Surfrider’s Climate Action Program uses dune-grass plantings to help address coastal erosion on eastern Long Island, with current efforts focused on preserving public beach access and protecting the Montauk Moorland at Atlantic Headlands.
This year’s gala honored professional surfer and longtime ocean advocate Greg Long. A two-time Big Wave World Champion, Long is the only athlete in history to win surfing’s three major big-wave titles and the most decorated surfer in the history of the Big Wave Awards. He has also been recognized as a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and Surf Industry Members Association Waterman of the Year.
Long’s relationship with Surfrider began when he joined the organization as a teenager. Today, he serves as a Global Ambassador, channeling a lifetime spent on the water into ocean stewardship and advocacy. He is also a co-founder of the Big Wave Risk Assessment Group, which promotes safety and risk management within the sport.
The host committee included Taylor and Liev Schreiber, John Slattery and Talia Balsam, Carolyn Murphy, Cynthia Rowley, Selby Drummond and Steven Dubb, Rachelle and Sean MacPherson, Jayma Cardoso, Christina and Howard Blaustein, and Shelby Meade.
Notable Attendees included Andy Cohen, Julianne Moore and Bart Freundlich, Martha Hunt and Jason McDonald, Naomi Watts, Bethenny Frankel, Devon Lévesque, Richard Dickson, Kevin Harter, Louise Riggio, Evan Yurman, Brandon Boyd, Rich Barton, Kit Keenan, Gucci Westman, Quincy Davis and Pat Schmidt, Christine Evangelista, Olivia Duncan, Kassia Meador, Julian Schnabel, Mikey DeTemple, Savannah Buffett, Nina Bartell, Cameron Bishop, Cristina Lehr, Corey Senese, Negar Mohammadi, Dianne Vavra, Justin Bartha and Chris Molnar.
Patagonia, Faherty, LaCroix and Gray Whale served as sponsors of the annual gathering, bringing together the relaxed spirit of Montauk with a shared commitment to protecting the coast that defines it.
Photography by Paul Brooke and Bobby Alan
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