On Saturday July 11, 2009 White Lotus Tattoo hosted its 1st annual Anchors for Jay Tattoo Benefit in Laguna Hills. Owner and artist Kris Stencel and his staff tattooed anchors on first come first serve customers for $20. All funds raised were donated to the Jay Thomas Special Needs Trust. Customers had a choice of 5 different anchors and had the option to get color or just black and grey. Friends from Spaghetti Bender to fellow surfers all got anchor tattoos. Our lovely dear friend Dano Forte got one as well on his way back from some tasty waves down south. Even sixty year old ladies were getting their first tattoo's for $20 and donating to the benefit.
The event was scheduled to start at noon, but when Kris and his staff arrived at 11am, there was already a line. They tattoo machines were dragged out, stations were set up, bbq was cooking and music was playing and the incredible staff and volunteers at White Lotus Tattoo worked their butts off for over 10 hours straight. "I didn't even take a break", said Kris Stencel, "I just kept my head down, tattooed and said, 'Who's next?'".
There was a wait list about an hour to two hours long and the great neighbors next to White Lotus were kind enough to put out chairs and allow patrons to sit inside out of the heat until they got tattooed. The Jay Team was in full effect and people from as far as Victorville came down and got a sweet $20 tattoo.
The OC Register came down a did a little story on the event and were kind and generous as always. Jay was able to make it down, even due to the fact that two days prior to the event, his van overheated. But again and as always with tremendous grace and motivation, Jay's amazing friends really pulled through and got the van fixed just in time for Jay and his best friend Shane Trulin to make it down to the event to give thanks and to say hi to his huge amount of amazing friends and to complete strangers who put their skin on the line for a good cause.
A huge thanks goes out to Dana Dencklau for the whole idea and Kris Stencel and his staff for putting on an amazing event. Thanks go out to James Thomas, Maren Carrillo and JEFFREY ANTENORE at the OC Register for the photos.
