Ocean Defenders Alliance holds a one of a kind event (with a silent auction) on Saturday, June 13. Our oceans are in peril these days, with everyday pollution, neglectful beachgoers who refuse to clean up after themselves, and the recent oil spill affecting many Southern California Beaches….just imagine how it is affecting innocent marinelife.

KuOceanDefendersAlliancelogort Lieber Founder of, ODA Ocean Defenders Alliance is dedicated to saving our precious oceans and all its inhabitants. “The oceans are one of the last places on earth where you can find nature that has all the elements that make up an intact ecosystem,” said Lieber. “From the top predators like whales, dolphins and sharks, all the way down the chain to anemones, shrimp and plankton. My organization removes as much marine debris as we can, because we want to see the oceans treated with the same respect and reverence as we do our National Parks and Monuments.”

Ocean Defenders Alliance is consistently in need of funds. Striving to clean the oceans is an expensive endeavor. Once a boat is purchased it must be maintained and equipped with proper gear. Lieber added, “The upside to trying to raise money is I get to meet a LOT of wonderful people who care about the oceans, and our future.”

When asked what has been his greatest reward, he replied…”There are several phases to my answer to this question. Firstly, seeing large fish come back to an area we’ve been removing net from for several years gives one an incredible sense of accomplishment. When we first started removing debris from most of these sites, there were no large fish, just small ones like blacksmith and gobies. Now we are seeing larger ones like sand bass, kelp bass, wolf eels and giant sea bass! Secondly, I love being able to give my fellow scuba divers the opportunity to volunteer with us. It can be extremely frustrating when you see this abandoned fishing gear killing animals, and have no way of removing it. ODA is a volunteer organization and we get people from all walks of life pitching in to help restore our local marine life. Lastly, I give a lot of presentations to the public, throughout California. It’s very rewarding to see people become enlightened about how beautiful our underwater habitat is, and to see how most of them want to help out in some way, whether it be through diving, helping out on the boat, or by making a financial donation.”

June13-CHarity-JenniferVerge-2015-Seek-Adventure-Acrylic-Mixed-MediaonPanel-30x20Artist Jennifer Verge was inspired to create a piece for the ODA Fundraiser. “I had the opportunity to volunteer for Kurt on his boat a year ago and the experience is life changing. His dedication and passion to preserve the ocean is an inspiration. Kurt is the Real Deal and It is an honor to paint something for this organization I believe in.”

See image: Jennifer Verge “Seek Adventure”

Make a difference today and enjoy an exceptional evening with ODA Founder Kurt Lieber.

Artwork will be up for auction such as a signed original artwork by Venice Artist Jennifer Verge “Seek Adventure” http://www.jenniferverge.com as well as environmental artist MB Boissonnault’s original signed “Wave 80” http://www.mbboissonnault.com/

Tickets are $30 per person or $50 per couple. To purchase tickets, please email kurt@oceandefenders.org or donate http://www.oceandefenders.org/donate

What: Fundraiser
Where: Private home in Huntington Harbor, (address will be given after ticket purchase
When: Sat, June 13, 7-10 pm
Website: http://www.oceandefenders.org/donate