Artists offer a helping hand

Hurley International would like to introduce everyone to Samba, a 6-year-old boy from Mauritania, Africa.

Samba just started school in his village. Samba’s father is an out-of-work teacher, and his mother works in their home, which means Samba usually has to stay with his grandparents in the village. Like many of his American counterparts, he enjoys playing football. The large Islamic country he lives in has had its share of turmoil, last year going through a military coup that has contributed to some of its poverty.

Samba’s stories came to the attention of the surf clothing company’s executives through Meredith Ambruso, 18, and World Vision, a nonprofit Christian humanitarian organization that sponsors children in developing countries.

About a year ago, Ambruso sponsored Samba through World Vision and tonight is hosting “Samba: Making the World a Smaller Place,” which is part of Hurley’s “Show of Hands” art series. The requested $5 donation, T-shirt sales and some of the art sales from the show that bears his name will go to Samba and World Vision.

“To me, it’s just the right thing to do,” Ambruso said. “That’s just [how] I’ve been raised, just to do the right thing and be there for other people and think of others before yourself.”

Ambruso has participated in earlier installments of Hurley’s “Show of Hands” series and approached organizers with Evan Kikawa, 17, about doing a show to benefit World Vision.

“We’re both pretty passionate about giving back,” said Evan, who volunteers at a Santa Ana homeless shelter once a week. “We just wanted to do something that helped.”

The purpose of Hurley’s “Show of Hands” series is to promote art and creativity in young people like Ambruso and Evan, which in turn helps boost their confidence, said Joe McElroy, Hurley’s director of global branding. Supporting World Vision represented a good way to promote that goal across borders, and it provided Ambruso a way to get her message out.

“Hurley’s ‘Show of Hands’ is really about supporting youths and artists,” Hurley spokeswoman Lauren Kay said. “It’s a place and a platform to show their art, and it really gives kids a voice, and that’s really what Hurley’s been all about…. Meredith would be a perfect example of that.”

Between school and her philanthropy, Ambruso is also an artist. She has been involved in photography and painting since she was a little girl, and in the past couple of years she said she’s developed her style. She mixes photography with her painting and is influenced by her love of surfing.

Evan, too, is an artist. He said he uses his art to express himself creatively much like some people do with their clothing. Both Evan and Ambruso were embraced by Hurley in their art and philanthropy, Ambruso said.

“We believe in the younger crowd,” McElroy said. “If we believe in the kids, it will just give them more self confidence and more belief in themselves to be a better person in life.”

World Vision child ambassador Vicki Casper said Hurley’s show is the first of its kind to benefit the organization. The organization’s main goal is to help children get an education, healthcare and help their communities become self-sustaining.

“World Vision is very happy about it,” she said. “Anybody that can bring these things to the floor through their art is really a great thing.”

Eighteen other artists will join Ambruso and Evan and their work includes photography and sculpture. At the shows, kids and their families roam around, skateboarding and enjoying refreshments, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, McElroy said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Samba: Making the World a Smaller Place,” one installment of Hurley’s “Show of Hands” artist series, which will benefit World Vision

WHERE: Hurley headquarters, 1945 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa

WHEN: 6 to 11 p.m. tonight

COST: Suggested $5 donation

INFO: www.hurley.com