Feb 5, 2007

ORMOND BEACH, Fla., Feb. 5, 2007 – Costa Del Mar, the premium polarized sunglass brand of choice for water enthusiasts, is gearing up to kick off its fourth annual U. of Blue College Tour, starting Friday, Feb. 16 at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, and culminating with a final stop at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas on Saturday, April 28. 

What began as a single event in 2004 at Florida State University has now grown to a tour of ten colleges and universities across the Southeast.  Cindy Garrison, host of ESPN’s “Get Wild with Cindy Garrison,” will host each school’s event and U. of Blue sponsor Sony BMG Nashville will add to the excitement with the inaugural tour of new national musical acts, Cole Deggs & the Lonesome and Crystal Shawanda. 

Cole Deggs & the Lonesome recently released its single “I Got More,” which debuted at number 53 on the Billboard Charts.  Other U. of Blue sponsors include: Chevy, Sperry Top-Sider, Columbia Nashville, Arista Nashville, Epiphone guitars, Reactor watches, Erie Surfboards and Emotion Kayaks.

This “party with a purpose” will ultimately serve to boost college students’ awareness of the Save the Wild Foundation, a new organization Costa Del Mar formed with Cindy Garrison and other conservation-minded outdoor professionals to channel funds to organizations that both protect the environment and the wildlife who call it home.  All proceeds generated during U. of Blue events will go directly to help support the Save the Wild Foundation. 

“The U. of Blue Tour is a rolling caravan of great people and music stopping at some of the best universities in the Southeast to have a good time and educate them on how we can protect our natural habitats,” said Chas MacDonald, president of Costa Del Mar.  “This is the largest U. of Blue Tour yet and it’s shaping up to be the best we’ve hosted so far.”

The 2007 U. of Blue Tour schedule is as follows:

Feb. 16 – 17: College of Charleston, Charleston, S.C.
Feb. 23 – 24: University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
March 2 – 3: Hampden-Sydney University, Hampden-Sydney, Va.
March 9 – 10: Georgia Tech, Atlanta
March 16 – 17: Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.
March 23 – 24: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.
March 30 – 31: Southern Mississippi University, Hattiesburg, Miss.
April 13 – 14: Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss.
April 20 – 21: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La.
April 27 – 28: University of Texas, Austin, Tex.
 

Each U. of Blue Tour event will feature live performances by Cole Deggs & the Lonesome and Crystal Shawanda.  Other highlights will include exciting tales of adventure told by Cindy Garrison, giveaways including Costa Del Mar sunglasses, Sperry shoes, Epiphone guitars, Reactor watches, Emotion Kayaks, Erie surfboards, a fishing trip with Cindy Garrison and an adventure trip from Chevy.  There is no charge for students attending U. of Blue events. 

About Costa Del Mar

As the leading manufacturer of premium polarized performance sunglasses, Costa Del Mar offers superior lens technology, unparalleled fit and durability, and a lifetime warranty on all of its products.  Still handcrafted today in Ormond Beach, Fla., Costa Del Mar creates the highest quality, best performing sunglasses for water sports enthusiasts.

Costa Del Mar supports and sponsors a number of marine conservation initiatives and educational programs.  The company was founded on protecting the marine environment worldwide and educating others to understand the importance of conservation.  For more information, contact 1-800-447-3700 or visit the company’s Web site at www.costadelmar.com.