About Charities

Michael Barry & Taj Burrows Winner of Susie O'Neill's swimsuit

Former WCT surfer Michael 'Munga' Barry foundered 'Godfathers Foundation' in 1998.

Munga has always been a great supporter and generous in helping charities worldwide. Whilst he travelled the globe in his rewarding surfing career, he soon discovered the poverty and deprived conditions of the many people in remote locations around the world.

Munga was inspired to take his involvement one step further by bringing the Worlds top professional men and women surfers together to form the 'Godfathers Foundation'. It is with with his wife Krista Barry, a former Australian Swimming representative who too has brought together the patronage from many of World's top Swimmers and Ironmen in supporting this organization.

Uniting the water world champions together was an integral part to structuring the foundations for the Godfathers of the Ocean to be capable of achieving their primary goal in raising awareness and funds for various charities worldwide.

In the past seven years, Godfathers of the Ocean has raised over $100,000 towards various charities without the aid from Government assistance or grants.

Godfathers' solely run by support by their sporting identities, the surfing/ surf lifesaving, and swimming communities. Godfathers of the Ocean will endeavour to grow and flourish in the future to achieve their objectives, and it is with the additional support from sponsors, celebrities, family, and friends that will eventuate into an international contribution around the world.

However, success will not be forthcoming unless businesses too are willing to be supportive. Godfathers' will need sustained efforts across a range of areas: support for awareness for particular charities via media; encouragement to form strategic alliances; support for research and development for various charities; Local and International development for growth.