Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation Gears Up for BeneFiesta
The Manhattan Beach-based Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation is set to host its biggest fundraiser of the year – the BeneFiesta – on July 20, with plenty of special surprises in store.
This year’s celebration will be particularly poignant, said Nancy Miller, because it will mark 20 years since the death of her son Jimmy, a popular surf promoter and teacher. Since Bali was one of Jimmy’s favorite surf destinations, she said, this year’s fiesta theme will be “Bali Dreamland.”
The BeneFiesta raises funds and awareness for the foundation’s world-renowned and groundbreaking ocean therapy programs. Ocean therapy is an adaptive surfing program developed to assist populations dealing with trauma-induced mental and physical illness through group talk discussions led by licensed therapists coupled with surfing.
This year’s fundraising efforts will target the foundation’s newest ocean therapy program supporting first responders, including police, fire, medics and dispatchers. The group has named the program FROPOWR – First Responders Oceanic Performance Optimization Wellness and Resiliency.
“Our FROPOWR program is designed to build up first responders that are serving our community, offer our appreciation and gratitude for their service, and hopefully help relieve some stress and provide a resource and medium that has helped us all cope with life through surfing,” said JMMF CEO Andy Dellenbach.
