Ever since Sanuk founder Jeff Kelley happened upon a magazine ad for Operation Smile, he knew this was a nonprofit that Sanuk had to partner up with. Nearly two years later, Sanuk is still providing donations to Operation Smile, helping heal over 500 children with facial deformities worldwide—essentially changing their lives (and smiles) forever.

Check out this trailer about the Sanuk team’s eight-day medical mission to Peru:

Click the image above to learn more about how YOU can help the Operation Smile cause!

El Naturalista Campos Ella in Indigo

Supporting people who help other people. This is the overarching cause that footwear brand El Naturalista supports with their We Believe In People initiative. It’s simple. When you purchase a pair of El Naturalista shoes, you will find a card in the shoebox with a personal code. Go to the We Believe in People site, pick one of the 4 projects/countries you would like to support, and you’re on your way!

Surfer videos often feature the pros making heart-stopping rides on tremendous waves, but there’s more to “Sofia: A Documentary.”

This video is the life story of Sofia Mulanovich of Peru, who took an unlikely path to top rankings on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Women’s World Tour.

Sofia, 25, is a child of Croatian ancestry who grew up in Lima, Peru. In terms of economics, her family was more fortunate than most, but that’s not saying much in a nation as poor as Peru.

Sofia Mulanovich grew up along the South Pacific Ocean and took to the water almost immediately, learning to swim at the age of three. She was so little that she began riding waves on a Morey Boogie Bodyboard before advancing to a surfboard, but by her mid-teen years she had advanced to world competitions as a young phenomenon.

These childhood events are captured on “Sofia: A Documentary.” Most biographies of athletes focus only a tiny amount of time on childhood, but for Sofia Mulanovich, that’s the heart of the story.

Sofia’s childhood was a time of horrific political upheaval in Peru. While terrorists fought in the city, she would escape to the beach. Others would do the same, but Sofia took her surfing seriously. Therefore, she ranks as the best competitive surfer ever to come out of South America, male or female. She is a national hero in Peru, where citizens are looking for role models after so many years of political corruption.

Sofia Mulanovich lacked confidence in her surfing, as shown on “Sofia: A Documentary.” She figured that she could not be as good as the established surfers from Australia and the United States. Instead, Sophia Mulanovich proved she was the best in 2004 when she won the ASP Women’s World Title. She captured second place in 2005, fifth place in 2006 and second place again a year ago. This year, Sofia is in second place behind Stephanie Gilmore of Australia with two ASP events remaining.

“Sofia: A Documentary” also is a winner, with a first place victory in the 2006 Surfer Poll Awards, and beyond the surfing world, the film took first place at the prestigious Newport Beach Film Festival. It’s an hour-long flick in Spanish with some English. To learn more, see sofiadoco.com

Already, Sofia Mulanovich is in the Association of Surfing Professionals Hall of Fame. She’s a Cinderella story, but she goes far beyond ballroom dancing. Sofia Mulanovich rocks on her surfboard!

Sources:
http://sofiadoco.com
http://www.lat34.com/surf/sofia_mulanovich
http://www.surfline.com/womens/story_bamp.cfm?id=3728
www.aspworldtour.com