Blue Ring Campaign Celebrates First Year with "Sea Change"

Blue Ring celebrates its one-year anniversary and commitment to ocean conservation with “Sea Change” on Friday, June 29th from 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m. at Hilton-Asmus Contemporary (716 N Wells Street). The fundraising event will feature cocktails and light bites, along with a raffle, silent auction and live oil painting by artist Jennifer Idol. Each attendee will receive a Blue Ring membership and exclusive gift while proceeds from ticket sales will go toward fulfilling Blue Ring’s goal of building two citizen submarines to exploreand document marine eco-systems.

In addition to “Sea Change,” Blue Ring founder and Woodridge native, Alex Rose, will host 20-30 teen girls from the non-profit organization Step Up earlier in the day, to introduce them to the world of water in a new way. They girls will tour and explore The John G. Shedd Aquarium, followed by lunch and a 2-hour in-water outreach program. Blue Endeavors will teach them about snorkeling, scuba diving and the science of breathing with demos taking place in a pool.

“My ultimate goal is to introduce kids to water in a different way, explains Rose. “If they like it, maybe it will foster an interest that could potentially turn into a hobby and even a career later in life. The dive industry is always in need of future dive masters and instructors, and these types of jobs can take a person all over the world.

A lover of all things aquatic since she was a kid, Rose is far beyond her 31 years when it comes to ocean exploration. With the support of her mentor, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Rose is on a mission to enhance public understanding of the marine world and to find ways to protect the ocean realm through research, writing, conservation and education. An underwater photographer, science editor for Ocean Geographic, managing editor of Ocean Geographic Explorers, PADI Divemaster, Explorers Club Fellow and professional violinist, Rose’s travels to the Galapagos, Cuba, Norway and the Arctic have all been in support of raising awareness for the world’s marine ecosystems that we depend on yet are overlooked.

Blue Ring is a Benefit Corporation, launched in 2017, that allows people to pledge their commitment to ocean conservation by "merying" the ocean. For a membership fee of $25 annually, supporters receive a silicone blue ring along with a digital “Meriage Certificate.” Those under 18 years of age can be adopted by the ocean and receive a pendant to become Children of the Sea. Blue Ring supports, via many small-scale purchases, the funding of globally significant ocean exploration and conservation projects that will positively shape the future.

“This inaugural ocean fundraiser will be a way to bring the beauty of the sea into the city, while drawing attention to positive ways each one of us can protect our planet’s precious marine habitats.”

Tickets to “Sea Change” is $50 per person and can be purchased at www.bluering.blue. For more information about membership or ocean conservation, please visit www.bluering.blue.