Switchfoot hosts seventh annual Bro-Am charity event this weekend

Switchfoot has played for thousands, sold record to millions and won numerous prestigious awards including a Grammy earlier this year. But according to keyboard player/guitarist Jerome Fontamillas, not much can top the feeling the band gets from participating in its own annual Bro-Am surf contest and beach concert.

“It’s probably one of our favorite times of the year because it’s not about Switchfoot the band,” Fontamillas told Whole Notes. “It’s about giving to the community and helping out (Stand Up For Kids). The band is there to help out but it’s more of a community thing.”

This year’s event will be held Saturday, June 18th at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, Calif., The seventh annual gathering includes surfing contests, food and games and a beach concert featuring Switchfoot, The Howls, The Romany Rye and The Silent Comedy, along with a private auction and an after-party concert at The Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach headlined by Goo Goo Dolls front man Johnny Rzeznik, Little Hurricane and Jon Foreman’s side project Fiction Family.

While the event is enjoyed by thousands of people each year, Fontamillas said that the Bro-Am is ultimately all about community and giving back.

“It’s really a charity event and Switchfoot just happens to be there,” he added. “It’s cool because we’re not really the focal point. The charity is the focal point and we’re there to help out anyway we can.”

This year, the Bro-Am will once again benefit the San Diego and Oceanside chapters of the non-profit organization StandUp For Kids, which pulls together resources to assist at-risk, homeless and street kids.

“(A few years ago), we were able to visit their place and we saw how they were connecting with the kids that are struggling in San Diego,” Fontamillas said. “They really take them in. That struck us and we wanted to help out. It’s a great organization.”

So far, the Bro-Am has raised more than $400,000 for various San Diego-based children’s charities including last year’s event that pulled in $135,000 on behalf of StandUp For Kids.

For a full list of the weekend’s events, visit the band’s official Bro-Am site by clicking here.

Visit Whole Notes next week for more from Switchfoot’s Jerome Fontamillas including his thoughts on the band’s upcoming studio album Vice Verses (September 27th).