Making Waves in Love: Hily Connects Singles at Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon by Helen Woodward Animal Center
Make a donation and discover that every spot is a dating spot
San Diego, August 21, 2025 — Hily Dating App is proud to sponsor the 20th annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon, hosted by Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego, to raise funds for orphan pets in need.
The main attraction of Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon is, of course, a surf contest. Seventy daring dogs will be riding the waves in 10-minute heats, judged on skill, style, and pure fun-factor. Winners in each weight class advance to compete for the “Best In Surf” title. This year’s newest splash: a freestyle contest with awards for creativity, tricks, team surfing and standout costumes.
Attendees can not only cheer on Top Surf Dog contenders, but also mingle with fellow pet-lovers and make new connections at Hily’s interactive booth. With this unconventional sponsorship choice, Hily reinforces its stance on authenticity in dating—“Every Spot Is a Dating Spot,”—to encourage singles to spark meaningful conversations wherever life takes them … and in this case, wherever their pets do too.
“Helen Woodward Animal Center truly celebrates the bond and joy that pets bring to human lives. We are so touched and inspired that Hily Dating App understands and celebrates that bond by bringing couples together who value furry family members as much as we do,” says Jessica Gercke, Communications Director at Helen Woodward Animal Center.
At the Hily Dating App booth, visitors can pick up stickers with playful messages like “Introduce me to your dog,” “Looking to co-parent a dog” and “Here for dogs and dates” as well as connect with others at special “dating spots” designed for both humans and their dogs. Dog parents can also try their luck at winning adorable merch—including dog bandanas that say “my human is single,” fun hats and T-shirts—by spinning the fortune wheel with their pup. They can also donate to HWAC at the booth.
“Hily stands for authenticity—celebrating fun, openness and being real in dating. We’re here to break the artificial rules, like the idea of a “perfect” date that only adds pressure and anxiety. Instead, we encourage people to enjoy each other’s company and create memorable experiences—why not at a dog surfing competition? Unconventional? Yes. Memorable? 100%. At Hily, we believe every spot is a dating spot—and this one comes with a good cause too, ” says Julia Kolesnyk, Head of Brand & Communications at Hily.
The Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon will take place September 7, 2025, from 8am to 2pm at Del Mar Dog Beach. Admission is free, with donations welcomed to support Helen Woodward Animal Center’s mission and programs benefiting orphaned pets. For more information on how to register your dog for the competition or make a donation, visit Helen Woodward Animal Center.
About Hily Dating App
Hily (pronounced like ‘highly’) is a dating app designed to connect singles with new people while supporting them in remaining authentic. Short for “Hey, I Like You,” it invites users to have fun and not look for a perfect match. By encouraging everyone to date as they are, Hily is breaking one of the biggest curses of online dating—feeling pressured to hide your true self. Praising self-exploration, self-acceptance, open-mindedness, and inclusivity, the app helps people put real connections first and keep competition at bay by unlocking their unique, fabulous selves. With features like icebreakers, compatibility checks, messaging, Major Crush, and zodiac synastry, Hily helps users express who they really are and connect in genuine ways. Launched in 2017, Hily has become one of the top 10 dating apps in US app stores, with over 39 million users worldwide.
About Helen Woodward Animal Center
Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “People Help Animals and Animals Help People.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 90,000 people and more than 10,000 animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout our local and global community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the International Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, the International Remember Me Thursday® campaign and The Business of Saving Lives Workshops, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world.