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"GIVE BACK" PROGRAMS AT ORANGE COUNTY'S COASTAL RESORTS SUPPORT LOCAL KIDS, FAMILIES AND ENVIRONMENT

Six luxury resorts that comprise "The OCeanfront" alliance welcome summer with exciting philanthropic events and new sustainability efforts for 2010

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (July 1, 2010) -- Six resort members of The OCeanfront coastal alliance celebrate the return of Orange County's idyllic summer season with a host of "give back" programs that aim to sustain the area's coastal communities and environment. Star-studded events and the launch of two innovative "green" programs kick off the second half of 2010, a year of giving back for these OCeanfront resorts.

Supporting Local Families, Children and Seniors

Paws For Cause will hold its Celebrity Gala on Saturday, July 24 from 6 pm to 9 pm at The Waterfront Beach Resort, Huntington Beach's dog-friendly Hilton resort. The gala aims to raise $50,000 and marks start of a fundraising weekend for Paws For Cause, which endeavors to bring hope, love and encouragement to challenging circumstances such as disadvantaged kids, seniors, homeless, shut-ins and disaster victims. The Annual Paws For Cause 5K Run/Walk follows on July 25 at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley; activities include a 1K Kids Fun Run; a Dog Costume Contest; a Family and Pet Expo with Entertainment and Live Music; Agility, Flyball and Frisbee Dog Demonstrations; great food; Laker Girls appearance, and celebrity appearances by the cast of the Brady Bunch, Jerry Mathers, Tina Yothers and Nikki Ziering. K-EARTH 101's Sylvia Aimerito will emcee.

The “1221 Club,” founded in 1993 by Balboa Bay Club & Resort, in June awarded scholarships totaling $67,000 to 12 deserving high school students within the Newport Beach and Costa Mesa School District. The students and their families were honored during an Awards Presentation and Reception at the resort, bringing the total amount of scholarship money bestowed upon college-bound students to $528,000.

"These seniors are well-rounded, and have been working so hard to achieve great things scholastically, athletically, and within their community. These are our future leaders, and that is something we want to reward.”

-- David Wooten, President of International Bay Clubs

Green Initiatives and Sustainability Programs

ReCORK by Amorim this month began a partnership with Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa to further its wine cork recycling program, which reprocesses wine corks into shoes. The resort is collecting their own corks for the cause; additionally, for each cork guests bring in for donation, the resort offers $1 off select bottles of wine (up to $25). The goal of the initiative is not only to recycle corks, but also to raise awareness of the crucial role cork forests play in curbing climate change. Instead of ending up as garbage, recycled cork can be used in items such as flooring tiles, building insulation, automotive gaskets, craft materials, soil conditioner, and sports equipment.

Ambassadors of the Environment launches at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel as part of a partnership with Jean‐Michel Cousteau, founder of the Ocean Futures Society. The recently launched program features a new environmental and cultural education center with excursions lead by expert naturalists. Each day is dedicated to different aspects of Southern California’s natural wonders: kelp beds, the intertidal zone, the sandy beach, terrestrial ecology, native culture, and sustainable living, with separate itineraries for Kids, Youths, and Adults/Families. Additionally, daily sport fishing excurisons from Memorial Day and Labor Day give guests of the resort a chance to enjoy the ocean while feeding local families through the Give Back Getaways program; any fish caught are cleaned and donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank. The excursion is operated by Dana Wharf Sportfishing and includes live bait and frozen squid, conventional rod rental with tackle pack, one-day California State License, and a food voucher to be used on board the boat. The cost is $70 per adult and $50 per child (3 to 12).

Long-term Sustainability Programs at Surf & Sand Resort and Montage Laguna Beach have helped make Laguna Beach one of Orange County's "greenest" communities and worthy of a series of environmental awards. These two Laguna Beach resorts aim to curb environmental impact on nearby beaches and minimize use of natural resources in the following ways:

Montage Laguna Beach:

* 82% diversion rate (YTD as of May 2010), or percentage of waste materials diverted from traditional disposal (landfilling or incineration) to be recycled, composted, or re-used

* 100% use of reclaimed water for landscape purposes

* Stormwater Runoff Filtration - All water runoff from the property is diverted to a filtration system before making contact with sewers.

* Integrated organic fertilizer and landscape program

* Quarterly Beach Clean-Up events

* Tide pool docent / guest education program

* Partnerships with Ocean Institute, Boys & Girls Club, SchoolPower

* No Styrofoam is used on the property substitute materials are either recyclable or biodegradable

Surf & Sand Resort:

Focus on Reduction of Harmful Chemicals:

* Linens are washed using a system that requires only one chemical and uses fewer detergents, conserves water and energy, and is not harmful to the environment

* Room-attendant chemicals include a “green guarantee” that ensures the environmental safety of the products, packaging and operations

* A “dry extraction” carpet cleaning system meets Green Seal’s environmental standards for industrial cleaners based on its reduced human and aquatic toxicity and reduced smog production potential

Initiatives to Reduce Energy and Fuel:

* Automatic and motion-sensitive timers have been installed on lighting fixtures and mechanical equipment to reduce power consumption during off-peak times

* The kitchen purchases locally grown, sustainable foods from companies with small carbon footprints and from vendors associated with the Green Planet Association

* Longer-lasting frying oil reduces the amount needed during the year

A selection of high-resolution images is available to journalists for download from The OCeanfront, CA's Flickr account; photo credit should be given to the corresponding resort. For additional images or information on these programs and events, email Michelle McCue or call (213) 985-1011.

About The OCeanfront

The OCeanfront is a destination alliance comprising Orange County, California’s four magnificent coastal communities: Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Dana Point. This stretch of Southern California coastline is home to some of the world’s most breathtaking beaches, award-winning resorts and spas, superior restaurants, distinguished cultural events and venues, abundant outdoor activities, world-class shopping and much more. The OCeanfront alliance consists of seven luxury resorts – The Balboa Bay Club & Resort; The Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort; Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa; Montage Laguna Beach; The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel; Surf & Sand Resort; and Marriott Laguna Cliffs. Other members of The OCeanfront include South Coast Plaza, the Anaheim/OC Visitors and Convention Bureau, Dana Point Visitors Bureau, Huntington Beach Marketing & Visitors Bureau, Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau, and Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau. For more information, call McCue Marketing Communications at (213) 985-1011 or visit TheOCeanfrontCA.com.

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