SUP Paddle Party, Hailey's House & World Records

NEWPORT BEACH, California - Toward the end of August of last year there was a huge stand up paddle event called Paddle Party 2012 that set out to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest stand up paddle board lesson.

The purpose of the event was to bring awareness and attention to Hailey's House, which, "exists to help middle school girls headed down the wrong path to change direction and empower their parents to be in charge of the home".

According to Hailey's House founders Tom and kisha Maher, they wanted to use something popular to bring attention to Hailey's House and decided to do that by way of their other passion which is stand up paddle boarding.

As explained by Tom and Kisha while literally at Paddle Party 2012, Hailey's House was developed for 3 main reasons:

1. The first reason was to go to families homes to help set up structure and discipline with parents to help alleviate difficult behavior with their daughters and empower parents to be in charge of their home.

2. The second reason was to hold Paddle Girl Parties.  These are stand up paddle parties where middle school age girls learn how paddle boarding relates to life.  For example, the girls are taught how the paddle board is their base while on the water and that in life they also need to create a base such as values.

3.  The third reason for Hailey's House and Paddle party 2012 was to raise money for a residential house in Orange County, California where girls can come get assistance.  Hailey's House founders have explained that sometimes when therapy isn't enough, kids get sent to boarding schools in the mountains and they are trying to bridge that gap.

By the end of Paddle Party 2012, organizers had counted about 517 stand up paddlers at the SUP lesson and needed around 430 to beat the existing world record.  By all accounts the event was successful in terms of shooting for the world record and for bringing awareness to Hailey's House.

What other important causes do you know of that are being brought to the forefront through stand up paddle?  

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