I made it to San Diego Tuesday for the launch of  Sambazon’s Warrior Up campaign… and to see my new billboard in person. I found it at 30th and Adams, in the Hillcrest area of town, supposedly where all the hipsters hang out. Kato and I screamed and giggled when we first spotted it. What a feeling!

Sambazon is helping to promote organizations that give back to our communities and to the world, and Pedal Patch Community in downtown LA is the non-profit I’m working with. Jason Eugene Boarde is the Director of PPC, and is pictured to the right above at one of the community gardens.

Ani Phyo at Biscuit / Toy Lofts Community Garden from pedalpatch on Vimeo.

Raw Food Star Ani Phyo with PPC Director Jason Boarde from pedalpatch on Vimeo.

PPC is a community supported social enterprise advocating innovative, community-based solutions to hunger, food insecurity and sustainability. PPC works with at-risk youth and develops edible landscapes and garden communities that focus on positive land use, eco-literacy, food system sustainability, food security matters and community involvement. We’re launching a series of talks and events called Food Stuff LA on August 21st, 2010 designed around a panel of experts providing a healthy dose of wellness, good food, and ardent discussion to raise awareness around healthy sustainable food options and food security and safety issues.

Now, on to the PARTY!…later that evening, we headed to downtown San Diego for the launch and press event. It was in a warehouse with beautiful exposed brick walls. The 11 warrior images were posted on opposing walls, and the space was transformed into a hip art gallery.

I felt so honored to be in a line up with Jack Rose and free surfer celebrity Jon Rose. They both work to make clean drinking water available to those in the world who need it most through their non-profits Rain Catcher and Waves for Water. Currently, they’re traveling into Haiti every other week  with ceramic water filters and buckets to set up water filtration systems to save lives. I’m in awe of this father and son team. They both have beautiful spirits, fiery passion and drive, and amazing stories.

To the right is master surfer Rob Machado who’s non-profit, Rob Machado Foundation, funds educational programs to help kids better understand their contribution towards a healthy planet. Programs include community gardens on school grounds.

Hans Rey, the pioneer in trails mountain biking and all time legend, provides bikes for people in developing countries in need of transportation to get to work or school through his non-profit Wheels 4 Life. We’ve had mutual friends in common for a couple years, and it’s always awesome to finally meet in person.

Kassia Meador is a real beauty. Kassia is a pro surfer, Roxy swimsuit model, and is a spokeswoman for Keep a Breast. Keep A Breast is a non-profit organization that exposes young people to methods of prevention, early detection, and support through development of habits that will benefit their long term health and well-being. Kassia and I share the same ideas for preventative care, eating right, and decreasing toxic load on the body.

Jeremy Black is one of the founding brothers of Sambazon.

And, Ryan Black is the other brother. Both are super handsome, smart, sweet, and doing really great things on the planet like making anti-oxidant rich Acai available for us here in the U.S.A. while giving back by creating sustainable projects in the Amazon.

Here’s the man behind the camera, responsible for all the beautiful photos in this campaign…JP Greenwood. He was laying low all evening, and I needed help finding him in the crowd..he’s super talented, and so modest!

And, here’s 2 of the magic makers at Sambazon….Kaia, to the left, and Alana, to the right. They’re the dynamic duo. Kato Banks has been a very good friend for many years from back in my San Francisco days.

This was a hugely successful event and launch of an amazing new campaign, which is no surprise since everything Sambazon does rocks!