Tony Hawk Foundation awards 500th grant, totaling more than $4-million.

3/20/12 (Vista, CA) – With a grant award of $10,000 to the Heaven skatepark project in Hartford, Connecticut, the Tony Hawk Foundation has now helped to fund more than 500 skateparks in all 50 states. Most states have received multiple grant awards in the ten years since the Tony Hawk Foundation began funding public skatepark projects, but Connecticut remained elusive until now. Total grants awarded by the Foundation since launching in 2002 have now surpassed $4-million.

The facility will have a lasting impact and serve as a safe, sanctioned environment for young people to skate with positive adult peers.”
—Stephanie Murdock, Skatepark of Baltimore

“The last 10 years have exceeded my expectations,” says Founder and President Tony Hawk. “I am more proud than ever of the work we are doing all over the country.”

Tony Hawk Foundation grants are awarded for the construction of free, public skatepark projects in communities that serve at-risk youth. Applicants must demonstrate exemplary efforts in advocacy, the ability to fundraise, involvement of the youth who will actually use the park, and a commitment to hiring professional skatepark designers and builders.

The Foundation Board of Directors meets twice annually to review applications and award grants. For the Winter 2012 session, the Board chose twelve projects and awarded a total of $100,000. The top award of $25,000 went to the acclaimed Skatepark of Baltimore organization, which has done almost as much to advance skatepark development across the U.S. as it has to achieve its landmark 16,000-square-foot park in Baltimore, Maryland.

“This grant is the most significant thing to happen to the youth of Baltimore this decade,” says Skatepark of Baltimore President Stephanie Murdock. “The youth of Baltimore are presently being underserved by a lack of adequate public facilities for skateboarding. Once constructed, the park will serve as many as 36,000 youths per year. The facility will have a lasting impact and serve as a safe, sanctioned environment for young people to skate with positive adult peers.”

The twelve Tony Hawk Foundation Skatepark Grant recipients for Winter 2012 represent 10 states and will result in more than 120,000 square feet of new skatepark space:

Baltimore, Maryland (Skatepark Of Baltimore) $25,000
Lone Pine, California (Healthy Communities Of Southern Inyo County) $10,000
Leadville, Colorado (Partnership For Lake County Recreation) $10,000
Hartford, Connecticut (Charter Oak Temple Restoration Association) $10,000
Lander, Wyoming (City Of Lander) $10,000
Oakland, California (Bordertown Skatepark) $5,000
Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i (Kona Skatepark Association) $5,000
Waynesville, North Carolina (Town Of Waynesville) $5,000
Junction City, Oregon (City Of Junction City) $5,000
Commerce, Texas (Commerce Parks Foundation) $5,000
Mabton, Washington (Catholic Charities Housing Services) $5,000
Sedro-Woolley, Washington (Rotary International Sedro-Woolley) $5,000

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Sarah and Kevin join Tony Hawk, Gary Arnold, Gerard Cappello, Chantal Cloobeck, Sandy Dusablon, Ben Harper, Pat Hawk, Steve Hawk, Lenore Hawk Dale, Bob Kahan, Chris Sacca, Jamie Thomas, and Mike Vallely to round out the Foundation’s all-star Board Of Directors.

The Summer 2012 Tony Hawk Foundation Grant season begins May 15, when the online grant application will be available on the Foundation’s Web site. For general information, as well as full details about Tony Hawk Foundation grants, please visit www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to promote and provide funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States—with an emphasis on the word “quality.” Since then, the Foundation has awarded $4,072,350 to 505 communities in all 50 States. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks.

The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children-related charities, as chosen by its Board Of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation's Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org. You can also visit THF on facebook at www.facebook.com/tonyhawkfoundation, on Twitter @THawkFoundation, and on Instagram @tonyhawkfoundation.

Champion skateboarder launches online auction to benefit at-risk youth.

3/1/12 (Vista, CA) – Tony Hawk has been helping create free, public skateparks for at-risk youth for over a decade now, and starting today he’s offering a collection of personal belongings and other special items to help raise funds to build even more.

This special eBay event includes skateboards and trophies from Tony’s archive, a custom car, a badass motorcycle, and other exclusive items and experiences. Online at www.thfauction.org, the auction runs until March 11 at 7 PM (Pacific Standard Time). All proceeds benefit the Tony Hawk Foundation, which has helped to open more than 400 public skateparks in low-income communities across the U.S.

Some of the items up for auction include the following:

X Games Champions’ Set: The dominators of X Games vert skateboarding (1995–Present) have come together to create this special collection of 5 autographed pro skateboard decks: Tony Hawk, Andy Macdonald, Shaun White, Buckly Lasek, and Pierre-Luc Gagnon. For the past 17 years, these are the names that have graced the vert-skating podium more than any other.

DUB Edition Customized Tony Hawk 2010 Dodge Challenger RT: The reigning King Of The Asphalt Jungle, the Dodge Challenger was named the “most appealing midsize sporty car,” according to J.D. Power and Associates. Totally customized by DUB, this vehicle includes a 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 engine (372 Horse Power), 22" Custom TIS Luxury Wheels with Pirelli Tires, Tony Hawk Logo Embroidery on Headrest, 2-7" Savv DVD player and monitors, Rockford Fosgate 10"subwoofer box, Rockford Fosgate 200-watt amp, DUB Chrome Badges, Performance hood, Front buckets with aggressive bolstering, five-passenger seating, All-Speed Traction Control, advanced multistage front air bags, supplemental side-curtain front and rear air bags, and more!

Victory Kingpin 8-Ball Motorcycle: The Kingpin 8-Ball is the classic modern cruiser, born out of a passion for throwing a leg over a raw, stylish bike and surging forward with a willing throttle. The blacked out bars, wheels and engine give it the down-and-dirty attitude of a motorcycle that can take on the distance without all the bells and whistles.

Tony Hawk Contest Trophy: Tony Hawk took First Place in the Vert event (of course!) at the 17th-annual World Cup Münster Monster Mastership event in Germany in 1998. This one-of-a-kind custom trophy was awarded to Tony on that occasion, and has been in his possession ever since. Tony Hawk has won hundreds of trophies. But you won’t see them on eBay--or in any auction, except here.

Autographed Michael Jordan Jersey: Tony bought this signed #23 Chicago Bulls jersey at a sports memorabilia store in Las Vegas at a time when he was being compared to Michael Jordan. Having hung in his office for several years now, the jersey’s finally ready to retire and make room for Tony’s new autographed Jeremy Lin jersey (just kidding!). But seriously, this is your chance to own a piece whose story includes two true legends.

Tony Hawk Prototype Doll Head: Own the actual prototype doll head created for Tony’s action figure. Also included is one of the resulting 12-inch Tony Hawk action figures (released in 2002), with all the accessories, unopened, in the box.

Tony Hawk 2 Prototype Airwalk Shoes: Sneakerheads line up! This is one of two sample pairs of 1997 Tony Hawk 2 pro-model Airwalk shoes created for Tony to approve ahead of production of his personal skate shoe. Pre-dating the pro-model skate shoe fad, this shoe was designed and released at a time when just a handful of skaters had their names on shoes.

Chateau Marmont Package: Enjoy a 2-night stay at the fabulous Chateau Marmont in Hollywood, California, with dinner for two. Chateau is always crawling with stars and starlets. Who will you run into (or be seated beside)?

The X FACTOR - 4 tickets to a live taping during the regular season: In a departure from other singing competition series, first time contestants audition for the X FACTOR judges (Simon Cowell, Antonio "L.A." Reid, Paula Abdul, and Nicole Scherzinger) in front of an audience of thousands--raising the stakes and increasing the pressure to impress not only the judges, but also a potential legion of fans.

Tony Hawk Personal Powell Peralta Street Skateboard Deck: Own Tony’s personal street deck, ridden by the champion skater in 1989. This Powell Peralta Tony Hawk “mini” pro deck was originally designed for smaller skaters, based on Tony’s full-size shape, but its lighter, more agile size made it a perfect street board at the time. The deck is used, scratched, and weathered—thrashed by the man, himself!

America’s Got Talent - Howie Mandel: Enjoy (4) VIP tickets to the taping of America’s Got Talent, plus meet and greet with Howie Mandel. Howie joins returning celebrity judges Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan this season, while actor/producer/comedian Nick Cannon returns as host. With the talent search open to acts of all ages, America's Got Talent has brought the variety format back to the forefront of American culture by showcasing performers from across the country, all vying for their chance to strut and perform on-stage, hoping to win America's hearts.

See these items and more at www.thfauction.org.

The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children-related charities, as chosen by its Board Of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation's Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org. You can also visit THF on facebook at www.facebook.com/tonyhawkfoundation, and on Instagram @tonyhawkfoundation.

New urban street plaza is inaugurated with star-studded skate and BMX demo.

2/15/12 (Long Beach, CA) – Tony Hawk and a group of pro athletes joined about 300 city officials and local youth on Saturday for the grand opening of the Ernest McBride Skatepark in Long Beach, California. The Poly High neighborhood, where the skatepark is located, is home to one of the country’s most diverse urban communities, yet few recreational opportunities are available for its youth. The new 10,000-square-foot skate plaza is considered by local leaders as the area’s best chance to keep kids active, healthy, and safe from gangs and crime.

Tony Hawk and friends came out to celebrate the Grand Opening of the McBride Skatepark. Photo: Anthony Acosta

Spearheaded by former Long Beach City Council Member Mike Donelon and the nonprofit Action Sports Kids (ASK Long Beach) organization, the McBride Skatepark was a collaboration between the city, its citizens, and local advocacy groups. “The City Of Long Beach understands the benefits of skateparks, and is a huge supporter of the kids who ride them,” says Donelon. “Today was the climax of our skatepark program. With the help of the Tony Hawk Foundation, we built a world-class skatepark that is going to keep kids out of gangs and off drugs, and will help them stay active and get along.”

Tony Hawk presented the McBride Skatepark at THF’s Stand Up For Skateparks event in Beverly Hills in 2010, where he helped raise $45,000 for the project. Long Beach has been a leader in providing its at-risk youth with safe, quality public skateparks, and the McBride Skatepark is the latest addition to its ongoing skatepark program.

“It’s an excellent street-plaza design, with just enough transitions to make it well-rounded,” says Hawk. “It has something for all skill levels, and is exactly the type of project, area, and advocacy that we want to get involved with. It should be an example for other communities to follow.”

After a few brief speeches, Hawk and fellow celebrity skaters Geoff Rowley, Ron Chatman, Riley Hawk, Danny Gonzalez, Daewon Song, Chad Tim Tim, Clive Dixon, and Danny Montoya, plus BMXers Aaron Ross, Dakota Roche, and Gabe Brooks ripped through the park, demonstrating its potential before being joined by the hundreds of local youth who were keen to have their turn. “It was a blast,” says Hawk. “The kids were so eager to skate that we cut our demo short to let them in.”

Of the nearly 500 skateparks the Tony Hawk Foundation has helped to fund, the Ernest McBride Skatepark is the 417th to open. It’s a free, open-access facility that welcomes all wheeled youth—skateboarders, BMXers, scooter riders, and in-line skaters.

Long Beach youth had their day, helping local and visiting pros inaugurate their new skatepark, the 417th THF-assisted project to be completed. Photo: Anthony Acosta

Throughout the development of the skatepark—from planning to fundraising to design—local youth were engaged and integral to the process. Now that their efforts have resulted in Long Beach’s latest public amenity, they can take pride in knowing that they helped create it. As both the City Of Long Beach and the Tony Hawk Foundation have understood for more than a decade, involving the youth in the process of developing the skatepark, and allowing them to invest their time and effort in the project, is the best way to ensure the park’s long-term success.

And the kids who were previously chased by police for riding their skateboards on city streets learned a thing or two about how local government can work for them; the skatepark stands as a concrete reminder of what they’ve accomplished through collaboration, cooperation, and compromise.

Skatepark Location: Ernest McBride Park and Cal Rec Community Center, 1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Long Beach, California 90813

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A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to promote and provide funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States-with an emphasis on the word “quality.” Since then, the Foundation has awarded $3,972,350 to 493 communities. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks.
The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children-related charities, as chosen by its Board Of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation's Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org. You can also visit THF on facebook at www.facebook.com/tonyhawkfoundation, and on Instagram @tonyhawkfoundation.

Tony Hawk Foundation celebrates the Grand Opening of the McBride Skatepark this Saturday!

Come join the Tony Hawk Foundation and the youth of Long Beach, California this Saturday, February 11 for the Grand Opening of the McBride Skatepark. This skate plaza is in the heart of Central Long Beach, and will serve one of the most diverse communities in the country.

The McBride Skatepark is the recipient of a Tony Hawk Foundation grant and was featured at our 2010 Stand Up For Skateparks event in Beverly Hills. Long Beach has been a leader in providing its at-risk youth with safe, quality public skateparks, and the McBride Skatepark is the latest addition to its comprehensive skatepark program. The Tony Hawk Foundation is proud to partner with the Youth of Long Beach, local leaders, and the nonprofit ASK Long Beach youth-advocacy group to help make this skatepark a reality for Central Long Beach.

Come join the celebration:

Saturday, February 11, 2012
10 AM (skate demo 11AM)

Ernest McBride Park and Cal Rec Community Center
1550 Martin Luther King Jr Ave
Long Beach, CA 90813

A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to promote and provide funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States-with an emphasis on the word “quality.” Since then, the Foundation has awarded $3,972,350 to 493 communities. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks.

The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children-related charities, as chosen by its Board Of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation's Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

Tony Hawk Foundation grants introduce new requirements.

December 15, 2011 (Vista, CA) - The Tony Hawk Foundation opens its Winter 2012 grant season today. The first opportunity of the new year to apply for a Tony Hawk Foundation grant, communities and advocacy groups across the nation will be vying for financial assistance to help build their skateparks, as well as the validation that comes with each grant award. Tony Hawk Foundation grants range from $5,000 to $25,000, and the foundation awards grants to about a dozen communities during each of its two annual grant seasons.

Skatepark projects must now feature cast-in-place concrete or permanent precast concrete designs to be eligible to apply for Tony Hawk Foundation grants. The Imperial Beach, California public skatepark features something for everyone—from street to bowls, and beginner to expert skaters. Imperial Beach received a Tony Hawk Foundation Grant in 2008 and opened in 2010.

New eligibility requirements will encourage applicants to aim for higher quality skateparks. Ramp-style parks made from wood, steel, or polymer structures will no longer be eligible for a grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation. Previously, these structures offered a less expensive, though temporary, solution to the immediate need to create skateparks. But a wider range of more durable concrete solutions has recently made the option of a permanent concrete skatepark possible with even the most modest skatepark budget.

Beginning with the Winter 2012 grant season, skatepark projects must feature cast-in-place concrete (shotcrete) or permanent precast concrete designs (that do not feature steel transition plates) to be eligible to apply for Tony Hawk Foundation grants.

Furthermore, the previous foundation policy of only allowing each community to apply for a grant a total of two times has been rescinded. Communities that have not previously been awarded a Tony Hawk Foundation grant may now continue to apply. Each applicant receives detailed feedback about their projects from Tony Hawk, foundation staff, and the Board Of Directors.

Tony Hawk Foundation grants are available for the construction of free, quality public skateparks serving at-risk youth in low-income communities in the U.S. The deadline to apply for a Tony Hawk Foundation Skatepark Grant for the Winter 2012 season is February 1, 2012.

The Tony Hawk Foundation believes that, like facilities for more traditional sports, skateparks should be free and accessible. The foundation favors grassroots projects that involve skaters in the planning and design of the skatepark, and that seek to build quality, permanent skateparks that don't require fees or memberships to use them. Full details about Tony Hawk Foundation grant criteria and the online grant application are available on the Foundation's Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

Since 2002, the Tony Hawk Foundation has awarded over $3.9-million in grants to 493 skatepark projects in 49 states. With 417 of those projects open and serving more than 3.5-million visitors annually, the Tony Hawk Foundation has helped fund more than eleven percent of the approximately 3,500 skateparks nationwide.

A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to promote and provide funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States-with an emphasis on the word “quality.” Since then, the Foundation has awarded $3,972,350 to 493 communities. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks.

The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children-related charities, as chosen by its Board Of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation's Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

Tony Hawk and Friends shred Vegas for the 3rd-annual DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks benefit.

Tony Hawk tips an Indy nosebone during the Vert Demo at Stand Up For Skateparks in Las Vegas. Photo: Jody Morris

November 8, 2011 (Vista, CA) – There’s never a dull moment when you have a Vert demo that includes Tony Hawk giving an awe-inspiring performance while 14-year old prodigy Mitchie Brusco holds his own with the likes of Elliot Sloan, Andy Macdonald, and Pierre Luc Gagnon “PLG”, Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins Pastrana, and BMX legend Mat Hoffman proving their pedigree on Tony’s personal ramp – all during Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, musician, and Tony Hawk Foundation Board Member Ben Harper’s rocking performance with his band.

The fun and excitement befitting “The Entertainment Capital of The World” was enjoyed by a crowd of 850 guests on Saturday at the 3rd Annual DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks benefit held at Red Rock Casino ~ Resort ~ Spa in Las Vegas.

Rubbing elbows with celebrities and their families – including Holly Madison, Carrot Top, David Copperfield, ‘Pawn Stars’ Rick Harrison, Alison Victoria, pro NASCAR driver Taylor Barton, Tillman the Skateboarding Dog, Travis Pastrana, Sal Masekela, Mike “Rooftop” Escamilla, Rodney Mullen, Mike Vallely, Ricardo Laguna, and actor, comedian Rob Riggle – guests came together to support the Tony Hawk Foundation’s mission to build free, quality public skateparks in low-income areas nationwide. Attendees enjoyed the family-oriented action-sports festival with games, great food, one-of-a-kind auction items, and lots of giveaways.

“It was our best Vegas event by far, thanks to Red Rock, Ben Harper and the level of talent on the ramp,” said Tony Hawk. “We also had some truly unique auction items that helped to raise good money for more skateparks. My kids had a blast!”

Through the generosity and support by those in attendance, the event was able to raise $640,000 for the Tony Hawk Foundation’s mission to provide at-risk youth with an opportunity to participate in a fun, safe and healthy activity, including $37,000 to help create a new public skatepark in the Las Vegas area. Funds raised through a live and silent auction – featuring the ultimate Jane’s Addiction meet and greet at The Joint, Dinner with Tony Hawk at the Simon Restaurant & Lounge, a Tony Hawk Edition 2012 Ford Explorer customized by Galpin Auto Sports and DUB, and a Roland Sands Design “Hawkized” Triumph Thruxton motorcycle – contributed significantly.

DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks was Co-Chaired by Tony Hawk and fellow THF Board Member and skate legend Mike Vallely. The Benefit Committee included prominent supporters such as Andre Agassi, Michael “Flea” Balzary, Ron Burkle, Chantal and Stephen Cloobeck, Jamie Lee Curtis, Patrick Dempsey, Jon Favreau, Perry Farrell, Leeza Gibbons, Brian Austin Green, Robin and Danny Greenspun, Ben Harper, Mat Hoffman, Terry Kennedy, Anthony Kiedis, Bobby Kotick, Chuck Liddell, Howie Mandel, Sal Masekela, Lance Mountain, Andrew and Trina Pascal, Andrew Reynolds, David Spade, Bill Walton, and Shaun White.

In true Stand Up For Skateparks fashion, a pledge drive was announced to benefit a local Las Vegas skatepark project. Youth and their parents from challenged communities throughout Las Vegas were in attendance as Tony Hawk made a pledge from the foundation and encouraged guests to purchase an autographed Tony Hawk Birdhouse pro-model skateboard in the Silent Auction, with 100% of proceeds going to a new skatepark in Las Vegas. Through November, you can also support this project and receive a signed Tony Hawk skateboard. Go to www.skatelasvegas.org to make your pledge.

Tony Hawk launched his Stand Up For Skateparks fundraiser in 2004 with the goal to increase the number of safe, legal, healthy recreational outlets for youth in low-income communities across the U.S. To-date, the Tony Hawk Foundation has helped fund 493 public skateboard parks, which now service more than 3.5-million youth annually.
DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks was made possible through the support of Ex Drinks, Activision, Red Rock Casino ~ Resort ~ Spa, Kohl’s, Quiksilver Foundation, Tech Deck, and Sweetwater Video. To learn more about the benefit, please visit www.standupforskateparks.org.

A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to promote and provide funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States—with an emphasis on the word “quality.” Since then, the Foundation has awarded $3,972,350 to 493 communities. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks.

The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children-related charities, as chosen by its Board Of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation’s Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

The Grammy–winning musician and several X Games champions will perform to help raise critical funds to bring public skateparks to at-risk youth.

October 16, 2011 (Vista, CA) – Singer-songwriter, musician, and Tony Hawk Foundation Board Member Ben Harper will entertain guests at the upcoming third-annual DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks benefit in Las Vegas, hosted by the Tony Hawk Foundation in support of its mission to create free, quality skateparks for at-risk youth throughout the U.S. Harper will be joined on the bill by Tony Hawk and friends, who will ride Hawk’s personal ramp during an intimate Vert Demo.

Ben Harper will perform at the 3rd Annual DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks event on Nov. 5 in Las Vegas.

The DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks fundraiser will take place on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at Red Rock Casino ~ Resort ~ Spa in Las Vegas, NV. The family-oriented, carnival-style event will feature interactive activities, food, games, and live and silent auctions with one-of-a-kind items and opportunities. Ben Harper’s performance will be preceded by the Vert Demo, in which Hawk will share the ramp with top riders Andy Macdonald, Mat Hoffman, Pierre-Luc Gagnon, Elliot Sloan, Kevin Staab, and 14-year-old wunderkind Mitchie Brusco.

A committed member of the Tony Hawk Foundation Board of Directors, Harper will offer guests an illuminating, up-close and personal musical experience. He has earned two Grammys and just released a new album, Give Till It’s Gone. He is celebrated not only for his talent, but also for his activism and philanthropy, supporting a wide range of causes from the environment and at-risk youth to poverty and hunger.

Harper joins an impressive list of supporters of the Tony Hawk Foundation. Past performers include blink 182, Jane’s Addiction, Social Distortion, Rancid, Pennywise, X, and most recently The Black Keys, who performed at the 8th annual Tony Hawk Foundation event in Beverly Hills earlier this month.

DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks is Co-Chaired by Tony Hawk and fellow THF Board Member and skate legend Mike Vallely, with other notable supporters including Andre Agassi, Michael “Flea” Balzary, Ron Burkle, Chantal and Stephen Cloobeck, Jamie Lee Curtis, Patrick Dempsey, Jon Favreau, Perry Farrell, Leeza Gibbons, Brian Austin Green, Robin and Danny Greenspun, Ben Harper, Mat Hoffman, Terry Kennedy, Anthony Kiedis, Bobby Kotick, Chuck Liddell, Howie Mandel, Sal Masekela, Lance Mountain, Andrew and Trina Pascal, Andrew Reynolds, David Spade, Bill Walton, and Shaun White.

“I could not be more thrilled to take part in such an amazing cause,” said Ben Harper. “We often forget that today’s youth are America’s future and to empower them today is to build a better tomorrow.”

“I am proud that in only three years we've built this event to be a popular destination in a city known for great entertainment,” said Tony Hawk. “Families fly in from around the world to attend, and with Ben Harper playing and the list of top riders joining me on the ramp this year, the event won't disappoint. And best of all—it'll help us get more skateparks built for the kids who need them most.”

Hawk launched his foundation in 2002 with the goal to increase the number of safe, legal, healthy recreational outlets for our youth in low-income communities across the U.S. To-date, the Tony Hawk Foundation has helped fund 493 public skateboard parks in these communities, which now service 3.5-million youth annually. DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks is made possible through the support of Ex Drinks, Activision, Red Rock Casino ~ Resort ~ Spa, Kohl’s, Quiksilver Foundation, Tech Deck, and Sweetwater Video.

Information about DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks, including tickets and sponsorship opportunities, is available at www.standupforskateparks.org. There you can also view some one-of-a-kind auction items, including signed memorabilia, unique experiences, and much more.

For more information about the benefit and tickets, or to place a proxy bid on any of the amazing auction items, please contact Lily Schwimmer at lily@tonyhawkfoundation.org or (760) 477-2479. For media inquiries, please contact Kelly Reeves at kelly@klrpr.com or (949) 509-1888.

For further information on Ben Harper please contact Patrick Jordan, Red Light Management at patrick.jordan@redlightmanagement.com.

All funds raised during the DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks event go directly to the Tony Hawk Foundation and its programs to help bring free, quality public skateparks to youth who need them most.

A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to promote and provide funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States—with an emphasis on the word “quality.” Since then, the Foundation has awarded $3,972,350 to 493 communities. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks.

The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children-related charities, as chosen by its Board Of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation’s Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

Action sports descend upon Beverly Hills for 8th-annual Tony Hawk Foundation benefit.

10/5/11 (Vista, CA) – Within the span of an hour, a Vert Demo with Tony Hawk, Shaun White, Bucky Lasek, Mat Hoffman, Mitchie Brusco, and Lincoln Ueda was followed by an intimate set by the Grammy-winning duo The Black Keys. If you were there, you will remember it forever. If you weren’t, you have a chance to experience another memorable event in just a few weeks.

The DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks benefit took place Sunday at the home of Ron Burkle, Green Acres Estate, in Beverly Hills, California. In addition to the Vert Demo and The Black Keys performance, the family-oriented event featured interactive activities for kids of all ages, great food, and live and silent auctions. Auction items included a custom Triumph Scrambler 900 “Hawkized” by Roland Sands Design, a Tony Hawk Edition Customized Ford Explorer by Galpin Auto Sports and DUB, and autographed skateboard decks from Tony Hawk and other top pros like Chris Cole, Ryan Sheckler, Nyjah Huston, and Shaun White. Other auction items included a Kelly Slater-autographed surfboard, as well as autographed guitars from Jane’s Addiction, Green Day, and Rancid, plus luxury vacations and much more.

The benefit raised $755,000 for the Tony Hawk Foundation’s mission to build free public skateparks in low-income areas, providing local, at-risk youth an opportunity to participate in a fun, safe and healthy new activity.

DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks was Co-Chaired by Tony Hawk and fellow THF Board Member and skate legend Mike Vallely, with other notable supporters including Andre Agassi, Michael “Flea” Balzary, Ron Burkle, Chantal and Stephen Cloobeck, Jamie Lee Curtis, Patrick Dempsey, Jon Favreau, Perry Farrell, Leeza Gibbons, Brian Austin Green, Robin and Danny Greenspun, Ben Harper, Mat Hoffman, Terry Kennedy, Anthony Kiedis, Bobby Kotick, Chuck Liddell, Howie Mandel, Sal Masekela, Lance Mountain, Andrew and Trina Pascal, Andrew Reynolds, David Spade, Bill Walton, and Shaun White.

“It was our best event by far,” said Tony Hawk. “The auction items were one-of-a-kind, and the skate demo was one of the best sessions I have ever witnessed (or taken part in). The Black Keys were the icing on the cake—the crowd was in awe.”

Many celebrities and their families were among the guests, including Mark Wahlberg, Jon Favreau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bill Walton, Perry and Etty Farrell, Chuck Liddell, Kat Von D, Mike ”Rooftop” Escamilla, Fred Durst, Rob Machado, Tillman the Skateboarding Dog, dance troupe Chi-Town’s Finest Breakers, Kevin Staab, Jason Ellis, Jamie Thomas, Stevie Williams, Holly Robinson Peete, Lance Mountain, Chris Cole, Stefan Lessard, Rodney Mullen, and Legoland’s Darth Vader.

In keeping with tradition, a pledge drive was announced at the event to benefit a local skatepark project. Youth from the challenged Canoga Park community in Los Angeles were present as Tony and event Co-Chair Mike Vallely rallied the crowd to support their skatepark. Donations for this important project are still being accepted. Through October, contribute $300 or more to the skatepark effort in Canoga Park and receive an autographed Tony Hawk skateboard deck. See the video about this project and make your contribution at www.skatecanogapark.org.

The Tony Hawk Foundation launched its Stand Up For Skateparks fundraiser in 2004 to support its mission to help create free, safe, legal skateparks for youth in low-income communities across the U.S. To-date the Tony Hawk Foundation has helped fund 493 public skateboard parks in these communities, which now service 3.5-million youth annually.

DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks was made possible through the support of Ex Drinks, Activision, Mondrian Los Angeles, Kohl’s, T-Mobile USA, Quiksilver Foundation, and Tech Deck.

If you missed the Beverly Hills date, DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks travels to the Red Rock Casino ~ Resort ~ Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, November 5, 2011. More information about tickets and sponsorship opportunities is available at www.standupforskateparks.org. There you can also view some one-of-a-kind auction items, including signed memorabilia, unique experiences, and much more. To place a proxy bid on one of the amazing auction items, please contact Lily Schwimmer at lily@tonyhawkfoundation.org or (760) 477-2479. For media inquiries, please contact Kelly Reeves at kelly@klrpr.com or (949) 509-1888.

A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to promote and provide funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States—with an emphasis on the word “quality.” Since then, the Foundation has awarded $3,972,350 to 493 communities. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks.

The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children-related charities, as chosen by its Board Of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation’s Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

Rock duo will entertain at Tony Hawk Foundation’s 8th-annual benefit in Beverly Hills.

9/15/11 (Vista, CA) – Grammy winning artists The Black Keys will headline the upcoming DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks benefit hosted by the Tony Hawk Foundation in support of its mission to create free, quality, public skateparks for at-risk youth throughout the U.S.

The DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks benefit will take place on Sunday, October 2, 2011 at the home of Ron Burkle, Green Acres Estate, in Beverly Hills, California. The family-oriented event will feature a Vert Demo with Tony Hawk and other icons of skateboarding and BMX on Tony’s personal ramp. The event will also offer interactive activities for kids of all ages, great food, and live and silent auctions. The Black Keys will perform in the program for an incomparably intimate and entertaining experience. The band is currently working on their seventh album with producer Danger Mouse.

The Black Keys join an impressive list of supporters of the Tony Hawk Foundation. Past performers include blink 182, Jane’s Addiction, Social Distortion, Rancid, Pennywise, and X. DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks is Co-Chaired by Tony Hawk and fellow THF Board Member and skate legend Mike Vallely, with other notable supporters including Andre Agassi, Michael “Flea” Balzary, Ron Burkle, Chantal and Stephen Cloobeck, Jamie Lee Curtis, Patrick Dempsey, Jon Favreau, Perry Farrell, Leeza Gibbons, Brian Austin Green, Robin and Danny Greenspun, Ben Harper, Mat Hoffman, Terry Kennedy, Anthony Kiedis, Bobby Kotick, Chuck Liddell, Howie Mandel, Sal Masekela, Lance Mountain, Andrew and Trina Pascal, Andrew Reynolds, David Spade, Bill Walton, and Shaun White.

“Rock-n-roll and skateboarding tend to go hand-in-hand,” said Patrick Carney of The Black Keys. “We’re excited to be a part of this amazing event and support such an exceptional cause.”

“The Black Keys were my first choice for bands to play Stand Up For Skateparks this year,” said Tony Hawk. “I am honored and excited that they accepted my invitation and look forward to an awesome performance.”

The Tony Hawk Foundation launched its Stand Up For Skateparks fundraiser in 2004 to support its mission to help create free, safe, legal skateparks for youth in low-income communities across the U.S. To-date the Tony Hawk Foundation has helped fund 493 public skateboard parks in these communities, which now service 3.5-million youth annually. DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks is made possible through the support of Ex Drinks, Activision, Mondrian Los Angeles, Kohl’s, T-Mobile USA, Quiksilver Foundation, and Tech Deck.

Information about DaGeDar Presents Stand Up For Skateparks, including tickets and sponsorship opportunities, is available at www.standupforskateparks.org. There you can also view some one-of-a-kind auction items, including signed memorabilia, unique experiences, and much more.

For more information about the benefit and tickets, please contact Lily Schwimmer at lily@tonyhawkfoundation.org or (760) 477-2479. For media inquiries, please contact Kelly Reeves at kelly@klrpr.com or (949) 509-1888.

For further information on The Black Keys, please contact Mary Moyer, Sacks & Co, mary@sacksco.com, (212) 741-1000.

The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children-related charities, as chosen by its Board Of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation’s Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

Tony Hawk Foundation launches helmet program and announces latest grants to build skateparks.

9/9/11 (Vista, CA) – The Tony Hawk Foundation has launched a new initiative to complement its skatepark-grant program and help kids skate safe. The program will put helmets on heads at the more than 400 skateparks the foundation has helped to open across the U.S. And after reviewing dozens of projects, the THF Board Of Directors also announced the latest recipients of grants to help build public skateparks.

The Donate A Skate helmet-and-board program distributes skateboards and helmets to youth in communities where the foundation has helped to open a skatepark. With the goal of encouraging young skaters to use the skateparks safely, and to reach those youth whose families could not otherwise afford the equipment, to-date the foundation has distributed over 400 helmets and 200 skateboards to youth at skateparks that received Tony Hawk Foundation grants.

The Donate A Skate program is funded through donations from Birdhouse Skateboards, Bell Helmets, and individuals who make contributions through the foundation’s Web site. To help THF equip kids with new helmets and skateboards, make a donation at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

In addition to this new initiative, the foundation’s decade of skatepark development continues with the announcement of the latest communities to receive grants to help fund their projects. With the economy causing cuts or delays to many public projects, it was reassuring to see dozens of skatepark efforts active and applying for a THF grant over the Summer. Ultimately the Board Of Directors chose twelve projects, awarding a total of $100,000.

Summer 2011 Tony Hawk Foundation Skatepark Grants

$15,000
Antelope, South Dakota

$10,000
Fort Hall, Idaho
Gold Hill, Oregon
Marquette, Michigan
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
San Francisco, California
Sisters, Oregon

$5,000
Brattleboro, Vermont
Lovington, Illinois
Monte Rio, California
Titonka, Iowa
Two Harbors, Minnesota


The Board also elected to change the longstanding policy limiting the number of times a community may apply for a THF Grant. Previously, communities could not apply more than twice, but under the new policy they may continue to apply if they have not previously been awarded a grant. The goal is to encourage skatepark projects that are very close to meeting THF Grant criteria to continue improving their plans. Communities that have already applied twice and were informed that they are no longer eligible to apply for THF grants may now submit new applications.

The next deadline to apply for a Tony Hawk Foundation skatepark grant is February 1, 2012. The online application will be available in January. Details are online at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.

A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to promote and provide funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States—with an emphasis on the word "quality." Since then, the Foundation has awarded $3,972,350 to 493 communities. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks.

The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children-related charities, as chosen by its Board Of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation's Web site at www.standupforskateparks.org.