ENCINITAS — Surfing Nerf ball competitions and other crazy antics notwithstanding, the fourth annual Switchfoot Bro-Am festival was backing a serious cause.

“Over the past three years, the Bro-Am has grown from a small dream into a beautiful reality; it’s extremely touching to see our entire community rallying together for our youth,” Switchfoot’s Tim Foreman said in a previous statement. “This year we’re honored to be partnering with StandUp For Kids, a nonprofit organization helping homeless and street kids in San Diego for the past 18 years. We’re thankful to live in San Diego, thankful for all the people who continue to work together to make a difference.” 

Aside from the powerhouse music performances of Switchfoot and other area bands, the event at Moonlight Beach on June 7 featured a team surfing competition. The finals found the Reef team going head to head with Surfride, which eventually succumbed to Reef’s dominance in the water.

The sun provided all of the energy necessary to power the event. Mia Stefanko, Bro-Am co-director, said the festival partnered with Sustainable Waves, a local operation that offers cutting-edge solar-powered sound and staging.

Co-founder Mark McLarry said Sustainable Waves utilizes the renewable energy sources of the sun to deliver 100 percent pollution-free concerts. According to Switchfoot’s Web site, by using solar power rather than a diesel generator or grid power, this particular festival avoided emitting approximately 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. That is the equivalent of not driving a car approximately 1,100 miles or the annual sequestration of 66 trees.

The entire roof of the main stage was covered in solar panels while a smaller stage captured enough energy to power vendor booths for the entire festival. “I thought the event went really well,” McLarry said. “I was stoked to be working with Switchfoot and all of the other great bands.”

The funds raised from the day at the beach and an auction totaled approximately $60,000. Kim Goodeve-Green, center director for StandUp For Kids in Oceanside, said she was grateful for the money that will provide much needed resources for the homeless youth the organization supports.

“The money raised is great, but for us (the volunteers) it is all about the kids,” Goodeve-Green said. On Saturday, our kids were able to be kids. Not homeless, not hungry and definitely not invisible." 

Goodeve-Green attended the event with 25 young people serviced by the nonprofit, all-volunteer organization. “The greatest benefit will be that maybe one kid will change their outlook of themselves and believe that they are special and that they can achieve anything,” she said.

The organization assists young adults — with an average age of 18 — who are homeless. The drop-in center provides meals and shower facilities three nights each week in addition to counseling and other resources. “They don’t have an opportunity to be kids because they’re always worried about surviving,” Goodeve-Green said. “This gave them a chance to relax.”

She said the money raised will go toward providing more resources for the homeless youth. “One thing we really need more of that money can’t buy is volunteers,” she said. “With more people we could serve more meals each week and stay open to serve more kids.”

To learn more about the organization or to volunteer, visit www.standupforkids.org.