Reef Ball Foundation Photos and Project Description Database

An Antidote to Reefer Madness The Reef Ball Athens' role in the fight to save world's coral reefs In this UN-declared "International Year of the Ocean," it would appear that one of man's strongest weapons in preserving coral reefs is an enormous lump of Swiss-cheesy concrete. It's a Reef Ball, or an artificial coral reef built to imitate the real thing as the real thing becomes harder and harder to find. The name is weird, admits local musician Kathy Kirbo, who serves as executive director of the Reef Ball Foundation, Inc. "People either think of RuPaul or pot," she says. Despite the name, Reef Ball has evolved from its conception in Athens and Atlanta to become a global player in the preservation of coral reefs. The man behind the ball is Todd Barber. When Barber, 35, founded the Reef Ball Development Group (RBDG) in 1993, he employed his scuba diving friends he met at UGA, such as Kirbo. Since then, both the for-profit organization (RBDG) and the year-old nonprofit foundation have worked with internationally diverse clients, from the Boy Scouts of America to the governments of Qatar and Hong Kong....

FLAGPOLE October 14, 1998 AN ANTIDOTE TO REEFER MADNESS Athens' contribution to the fight to save coral reefs In this UN-declared "International Year of the Ocean." it would appear that one of man's strongest weapons in preserving coral reefs is an enormous lump of Swiss-cheesy concrete. It's a Reef Ball, or an artificial coral reef built to imitate the real thing as the real thing becomes harder and harder to find. The name is weird, admits local musician Kathy Kirbo, who serves as executive director of the Reef Ball Foundation, Inc. "People either think of RuPaul or pot," she says. Despite the name, Reef Ball has evolved from its conception in Athens and Atlanta to become a global player in the preservation of coral reefs....