Last week marked the launch of Sambazon’s new media and advertising campaign aimed at spotlighting some special people that fight to make this world a better place. These change makers pay it forward everyday in a big way, and through the work they do, thousands of lives are touched.

Social entrepreneurs and founders of Sambazon, Jeremy and Ryan Black have built a multi-million dollar business and created a force in the Amazon that enriches the lives of thousands of local families, aids in the economic growth of the region and protects the biodiversity of the rainforest through Market Driven Conservation. All this while also bringing the health benefits of the acai berry to the world. But these brothers are just two men in a new generation of social entrepreneurs who successfully use business to create positive economic change for the planet. Warrior Up celebrates the work of Southern California’s leading social and environmental activists. The founding team of the Black brothers and their friend Ed Nichols are launching the campaign in San Diego because they delivered their first box of açaí there in early 2001.

In a press release Jeremy Black said, “Warrior Up is based on Sambazon’s triple bottom line business model and highlights the positive social, environmental and economic change our Warriors are creating every day. Through our campaign, we are celebrating these warriors and trying to motivate others to make a positive impact in their communities.”

Sambazon Warriors include:

• Raw food expert Ani Phyo, Pedal Patch Community.
• Surf legend Rob Machado, The Rob Machado Foundation.
• Surf long-boarder Kassia Meador, Keep a Breast Foundation.
• Surfer and activist Bethany Hamilton, Beating the Odds Foundation.
• X Games skateboard gold-medalist Bob Burnquist, Action Sports Environmental Coalition.
• Bio-fuel entrepreneur Buster Halterman, Buster Bio-Fuels.
• Ecology educator Evan Marks, The Ecology Center.
• Yogini and social activist Seane Corn, Off the Mat, Into the World.
• Extreme cyclist legend Hans Rey, Wheels 4 Life.
• Enviro-entrepreneur Stephanie Bernstein, To-Go Ware.
• Father-son surfers and eco-warrior team Jon and Jack Rose, Waves 4 Water.

In the next phase of the campaign, Sambazon is partnering with Off The Mat to create a contest in which you will be able to nominate a warrior in your own community who you feel is making a positive change in this world. They will award Warrior of Change grants to people who demonstrate the ability to most effectively create positive change. Sambazon and Off the Mat will accept Warrior of Change nominations from September 1, 2010 – February 28, 2011.