Raw Elements Hosts World Reef Day 2020

Founded by reef-safe sunscreen industry pioneer Raw Elements USA in 2019, World Reef Day is a recurring annual calendar day to highlight the critical state of our coral reefs and activate change in individuals, companies and government officials alike.
 
In June, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Reef Day celebration was hosted as a virtual ‘Safer At Home’ experience across Instagram TV. Conversations were hosted by Raw Elements USA’s founder with the likes of Hawaii senator Mike Gabbard, 1% For The Planet CEO Kate Williams and Oceanic Global program director Cassia Patel, just to name a few.
 
Intersectional Environmentalism served as a guiding theme in this year’s conversations. Live ocean experiences were broadcast by world-renowned marine biologist Ocean Ramsey, surf rider Oahu Chapter, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, Coral Gardeners & Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea.
 
“Pivoting the World Reef Day campaign to a virtual experience due to quarantine really allowed us the ability to slow it down, focus and learn”, said Brian Guadagno, Raw Elements USA founder. “We learned how our oceans have responded positively to humans pulling back from activity and how important social justice is to environmentalism. We also learned so much from the incredible people who broadcasted their knowledge and showcased their work. I think we all can take inspiration as how to walk on this planet as a more mindful human through this campaign. I know I sure have and we were even able to raise some funding for the groups helping us to do just that.”
 
Raising Awareness and Supporting Funding
 
The goal for the campaign was to raise awareness and support funding for 2020’s beneficiary organizations while educating the public on how to get involved and help. The experiences also provided a behind-the-scenes look into the work being done by each of these organizations including a coral cultivation with the Coral Gardeners team on the island of Mo'orea; sustaining cultural resources with Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea; reducing single use plastics with Surfrider Foundation Oahu; and an up-close look at the microscopic plastics in our sand at Waimanalo Beach with Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii.
 
Many people tuned in from their homes for the experience. The total social media impressions of the virtual campaign touched 2.9 million and live impressions hit 135,000. $7,842.60 in total funding was raised with $1,960.65 being donated to each beneficiary to support their critical work. Raw Elements USA donated $6,782.60 to the beneficiaries through the 1% For The Planet network which accelerates smart environmental giving.
 
From beach cleanups, government activism and youth education to cutting-edge research and technology, World Reef Day is honored to highlight the efforts of its four beneficiaries.