ELENA CRISTIANO - For the North County Times

ENCINITAS -- A record crowd of about 7,000 people filled Moonlight Beach on Saturday afternoon for the fifth annual Switchfoot Bro-Am surf contest and concert.

"We are overwhelmed, impressed and grateful," said San Diego-based Switchfoot guitarist and keyboard player Jerome Fontamillas. "It just keeps getting bigger."

The multi-platinum rock band's vision for its increasingly popular, namesake charity event is simple.

"When we started gaining national attention we wanted to create an event that would give back to our own community," said Fontamillas.

The Switchfoot Bro-Am, an environmentally friendly event, raised money for Stand Up For Kids through an auction Thursday night, surf contest entry fees, vendor fees during the main event, sponsorships and an after-party at the Belly Up Tavern on Saturday night.

This is the second year in a row that Switchfoot selected Stand Up For Kids as the beneficiary for the event. Stand Up For Kids is a national nonprofit volunteer organization that started in San Diego. The organization is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk, homeless and street kids.

"This song is dedicated to you, our true heroes," said lead vocalist Jon Foreman, pointing to the Stand Up For Kids group as the band broke into the song 'We Were Meant to Live.'

"You guys inspire these songs."

"This is so cool," said Salo Montes of Oceanside. Two years ago Montes was homeless. Stand Up For Kids helped him find a job and an apartment.

"Everything they are doing here is going back to people and it's all going to help," he said.

"Stand Up For Kids is one of those causes that you just fall in love with," said Kip Locke, a contestant on this season's "Bachlorette" reality TV show and Bro-Am co-director with Mia Stefanko, assistant publisher of Ranch and Coast Magazine.

"They were a great partner last year and we really feel we are making a difference in the lives of these kids," said Stefanko.

While her 16-year old daughter, Leila, stood in the front row rocking out with all the other concert attendees, Jelveh Pedraza of Oceanside called her son at Oxford University in England and let him listen on her cell phone to the show.

"Switchfoot is incredible," said Pedraza. "I so admire them for dedicating their art to the community and for being an example to all youth of what they can do."

The free concert featured performances by Tristan Prettyman, Timmy Curran, The New Archaic, The Howls, Indivision, Jane Carrey Band, and Switchfoot.