Give Back in Style: Melissa Porter Benefit at Bar West

“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.” ~Albert Pine

On May 8th, 2009, Bar West endured the devastating loss of friend and bartender, Melissa Porter.

While exiting Interstate 805 at Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Melissa’s Chevy pickup truck veered across all lanes of traffic and crashed into the back of a commercial truck parked near the freeway off ramp, instantly taking her life.

At just 25 years old, Melissa’s life was far too short, but her unwavering passion for charity work, as well as her profound admiration for helping friends, family and her community, left an immense impact on the loved ones she left behind. In celebration of her heartfelt good deeds and her short, but greatly influential life, Bar West gathers together every year to host the The Melissa Porter Benefit as a token of appreciation to her generous crusade towards the betterment of human life in San Diego and beyond.

Give Back in Style: On Wednesday, May 11th from 8pm-12pm, join Bar West as they memorialize and honor Melissa by carrying on her passion to make a difference in the world and improve the lives of others. A $10 donation is suggested at the door which will include one free drink and appetizer per person. Raffle prize tickets will be given to donators which will present the opportunity to win a wealth of fantastic prizes including VIP bottle service, dinner certificates at the finest San Diego restaurants, signed athletic apparel and more. In addition, the evening will also feature Svedka drink specials all night long, live music by DJ Flesch, and a live auction for the chance to win an all-inclusive 7 day/6 night surf trip for two to Ecuador.

After the tragic loss of her father to suicide, Melissa became actively involved in several suicide prevention programs and other charitable causes. Last year, Bar West donated all proceeds of their event to the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program and Survivors of Suicide Loss, on Melissa’s behalf. This year’s honorary event will support yet another reputable and life-preserving cause known as Walu International, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives by improving sanitary conditions in the coastal communities of Papua New Guinea.

About Walu International: After a surf trip to Lido, Papua New Guinea in November of 2007, charity founder Zack Parker became dismayed by the lack of sanitation and prevalence of illness. People were sick, children were dying, and the community had no means by which to better their troubling situation. The villagers drank stagnant rainwater out of large, open containers, and used the beach as their toilet. This same beach was where the children played and the women fished. Zack and Taylor were originally in search of perfect and isolated surf, but ended up finding an impoverished village greatly in need of help and guidance. Walu International strives to educate and empower local people with the information to identify their own problems and come up with their own solutions. For more information about Walu International, please waluinternational.org.

For those who are interested in making a monetary or product donation for this celebratory and charitable evening, please contact Cara Moore at cara@barwestsd.com. For further information, please contact 866.202.3107 or visit Bar West in Pacific Beach.

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