Seven years into THF, our efforts are now visibly successful. Most of our grant recipients have completed skateparks in their towns, and we have awarded more than $2.7-million. This money has helped support and partially fund 427 skatepark projects across the U.S., but the most rewarding aspect is seeing the joy on the faces of kids who realize their years of perseverance have finally paid off. It doesn’t take long for cities to realize that their modest skateparks get more use than the local tennis courts or baseball fields. We are proud to be a part of this process of enlightenment.

Last Fall our fifth-annual Activision Presents Stand Up For Skateparks fundraising event was a huge success. We returned to Ron Burkle’s estate in Beverly Hills, where Social Distortion played an incredible acoustic set, and some friends (Shaun White, Bucky Lasek, Andy Macdonald, Kevin Staab, and BMX riders John Parker and Dennis McCoy) and I rode my halfpipe. Stand Up For Skateparks was co-chaired by me, Lance Armstrong, Rob Dyrdek, Christopher “Big Black” Boykin, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jamie Lee Curtis, Mia Hamm, Dana White, Jr., Jon Favreau, Mat Hoffman, Shaun White, Robert Kotick, Bob McKnight, Scott Greenstein, and Ron Burkle, and attended by a host of celebrities--including Anthony Kiedis, David Spade, Jamie Lee Curtis, Perry Ferrell, Chris “Big Black” Boykin, Mia Hamm, Kathy Ireland, Bam Margera, BMX legend Mat Hoffman, Nomar Garciaparra of the L.A. Dodgers, UFC fighter Wanderlei Silva, Olympic snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, and others. Attendees and stars took part in live and silent auctions, and for the second year in a row we raised over $1-million, including $79,000 in pledges for a skatepark in my childhood neighborhood of Tierrasanta in San Diego.

Last August we also hosted a Stand Up For Skateparks event in Bridgehampton, New York, where we raised $575,000, including $50,000 to improve the Manhattan Bridge Skatepark in New York City. Celebrity guests included Jon Bon Jovi, Russell Simmons, Vern Troyer, Michael Gelman, Nacho Figueras, UFC fighters Wanderlei Silva and Matt Serra, and others. We have plans to make SUFS 2009 even bigger and better, and to reach out to and assist even more communities across the country.

The quality of public skateparks is improving and their numbers are growing, but let’s not forget where they are needed most. Low-income areas and cities with too many at-risk kids are often overlooked because of their limited ability to raise funds or a lack of support from civic leaders. The more successful the foundation is at fundraising, the more we can help these communities.

My main job at the foundation’s biannual grant-application review meetings is to approve and suggest changes to skatepark designs. But my favorite thing is seeing the parks themselves. I’ve had the privilege of attending a few grand openings, and the appreciation of the local skaters is overwhelming. It’s a blast to see the finished product, especially when they’ve taken my design comments into consideration. Even more gratifying is the sense of pride that the locals have when they finally get to ride the fruit of their labor.

The foundation staff is doing an amazing job helping communities with their skatepark projects, organizing fundraising events, reaching new donors, and raising the awareness of our mission. Chances are that you have heard about THF because of their efforts. We still have a lot of work to do, so your support is greatly appreciated. With your help, we can give kids a positive outlet for their energy, and a safer community for them to grow up in.