Santa Cruz's sober living program Fleahab, founded by big wave surfer Darryl "Flea" Virostko, has been slowly chipping away at it's goal to raise money to get a house and start a sober living environment to help people overcome drug and alcohol abuse.
This Saturday could mean a giant chip towards that goal.
"Basically I think we're close to like 12 or $14,000 in savings and we're just waiting to raise around $50,000, then we'll be able to look for a house and get it going," said Virostko.
This Saturday's fund raising party is being thrown by venture capitalist Jim Hogan of Heart of Technology, a Silicon Valley nonprofit that helps fund raise to better local communities. The party is at his private estate in the Santa Cruz mountains, which features at 270 degree view of the Monterey Bay.
It's Hogan's tradition to host a huge party for a different cause every year, and to this date, the organization nets $44,000 raised for local charities.
"I get a bunch of people together for a cause and have an event, to just try to give them a boost. I use the opportunity to have a big party but also educate folks and bring in the money from the valley to help out," said Hogan.
This year, the cause is Fleahab, and Hogan feels strongly that the organization is of extreme social value.
"For me this time around, since I live in Santa Cruz I thought it would be great to do something local... We've all been touched by alcohol or substance abuse and anybody who is trying to overcome that should have the help they need. Flea's message was a sober place that you can get your life back together, so it resonated on a bunch of levels for me," said Hogan.
Tickets for the event are available online or at the door, for $35, and $50 with a T-shirt signed by Flea himself.
"We just want to get as many people out as possible, it's going to be a good event, you know good food, music, fun for the kids," said Virostko. "We have 40 to 50 silent auction items, so between this fundraiser and the golf tournament in October, I hope to be able to open a house and start helping people," said Virostko.
Silent auction items include surfing photographs from Mavericks, surf gear (including Surfboards used in the filming of ) an autographed guitar from Y & T, artwork from local artisans and more.
Food is being provided by various purveyors including Beckmann’s Bakery, Shoppers Corner and Mobo Sushi, and music will be provided by the local bands Singing Wood and the Vista Roots Band. Hogan says the crowd should be an interesting mix as well.
"Its always interesting to put guys from the Silicon Valley together with other people... I'm expecting the big wave guys to over power us with their presence," said Hogan.
The Fleahab party is Saturday, September 1st, from 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. Tickets are $35, or $50 with a T-shirt autographed by Flea. For more details including band times and "Fleabites" menu, click HERE.
