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X-Factor Finalist and Santa Cruz musical phenom Chris Rene made an appearance for Zane Keith and Marissa Hushaw’s Global Youth Service Day April 22nd supported by Disney and Sodexco to show his support of no children going hungry in Santa Cruz County.

Chris Rene on Atlanta's WILD 105.7 and 96.7

So when a good friend gave us a heads up that Mr. Chris Rene was rocking the Grind Out Hunger Music Logo and Zane Keith’s Hunger Fighter Bracelet (get yours by clicking the links and help feed kids!)on Atlanta’s WILD 105.7 and 96.7 special appearance we felt compelled to let the world know how amazing it is that we have his support. (Make sure to buy Chris Rene’s song Young Homie HERE)

David J On-Air for Atlanta's WILD 105.7 and 96.7

With artists like Chris Rene it will begin to be impossible for people to avoid hearing that kids are going hungry right in their own hometown. Thank You David J On-Air from Atlanta’s WILD 105.7 and 96.7 for getting these photos to the Grind Out Hunger team and let’s keep pressing the fact that no kid should go hungry for any reason. Thank You Chris Rene for showing the world that you are helping bring awareness to childhood hunger.

Grind Out Hunger is dedicated to empowering people to be advocates against childhood hunger and malnutrition. The energy has been catching on with major musicians representing the cause and lending their presence to bringing awareness to the masses that surfers, skaters, snowboarders and musicians are not going to let kids go hungry PERIOD. Look for more collaborations coming soon…

Mission statement: Empowering the youth by utilizing the passion of skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding and music to recognize the importance of community and food literacy.

Vision statement:  To alleviate childhood hunger and malnutrition by 50% nationally by 2015.

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It has been am awesome week, so much momentum for Grind Out Hunger. So much in fact that Thursday snuck up on us and the students of SOS High School were out in the courtyard waiting for their tour to start. As my guests were waiting I had to reflect…The best part of my job is to take students on tours of Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County and today was no different.

It started as usual, most people that come out to the food bank realize the obvious that food is distributed to the people that need it. What almost all of the people do not realize is that is just the very tip of the iceberg. Food banks are complex community hubs that champion a multitude of opportunities improving lives.

I start of with our guests letting them know a few things about the food bank they might find interesting. Fact one: 1 in 4 kids are going hungry or malnourished in Santa Cruz County. Fact two: The food bank serves over 55,000 people per month, Fact three: Second Harvest Food Bank is the second oldest food bank in the United States. Fact four: Grind Out Hunger and the youth of Santa Cruz County have raised over 1 million pounds of food.

As we cruised through the food bank, the students met Events and Food Drives Manager Bly Morales,  Volunteer Services Manager Danny Robles, CEO Willy Elliot-McCrea, Chief Operations and Programs Officer Brooke Johnson and multiple people throughout the warehouse. We watched a bag packing session (complete with LMFAO’s “I work out” on 102.5 KDON) and got to check out what was actually packed in the bags (there were pistachios in the bags we opened!). A bunch of students ran through the freezer and then the refrigerator, we talked about how many frozen chickens distributed over the holidays (30,000!!!) and how many pounds of fresh fruits and produce rotates in and out of the refrigerator (over 150,000  pounds).

As we wrapped it up, we talked about skateboarding and how it applies to helping people out, why I founded Grind Out Hunger, a little about myself (a 5 year stint on 102.5 KDON’s The Morning Madhouse and Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop always helps.)and how I grew up. After all is said and done, I like to leave students with some words of advice. As I hand every student my business card and their Hunger Fighter Bracelets, I tell them to make two promises to me;

1. Don’t do anything you are not passionate about, you can make as much money doing something you love rather than working in a job you hate.

2. One person can make a difference.

Ladies and gentlemen I give you the most recent batch of Hunger Fighters from SOS High School. You guys rule and can do anything you put your minds to!

Newly crowned Hunger Fighters SOS High School Students and Grind Out Hunger Founder Danny Keith

About SOS School:
SOS is designed for students up to age 19 who are returning to school and who want to continue their education and work towards a high school diploma, GED, or transition to Cabrillo College.
SOS is an individualized, student-centered program that also includes vocational education. The SOS Program is a collaboration between Watsonville/Aptos Adult Ed., COE’s Alternative Education, Cabrillo College, Regional Occupational Program (ROP), and Pájaro Valley USD.
For more information visit their website at: http://www.santacruz.k12.ca.us/alt_ed/schools/sos.html

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Hey Everyone! Shawn here…

I woke up this morning, not wanting to get out of bed, so comfortable under my blankets. After laying there for a bit it finally hit me that we have officially entered 2012. A New Year. My thoughts started to take me back several years ago when I was in middle school,  living on a diet of Top Ramen for about a month and living in a 1 room studio apartment with my Mom and Sister. I remember feeling like my life was never going to get better, like I was stuck in a dark place where light was unable to reach.
With the help of family and friends I was able to get out of that tough period in my life and turn things around, but it wasn’t without a great deal of self motivation and the courage to fight.

Now, years later, I am working in the non-profit world thinking of every possible way to help those that are currently in the situation that I used to be in. I know that I have the power to make a difference. I know i have the power to change the world, but I also know that I can’t do it alone.

Grind Out Hunger is first and foremost about empowering the youth, helping them realize that they CAN make a difference in the world around them. What kids and adults need to realize is that every act of kindness, no matter how small, is significant. Not only does it leave you feeling good, but it feeds hope. The hope that might be fading within the minds of those going through a tough time. This small bit of hope that each of us has the power to spread is all it takes to pick someone up and change their life.

I found this quote earlier today that is going to help me get my message across:

Not everyone can donate hundreds of dollars. Not everyone has the time to volunteer hours and hours at a non-profit. This does not mean that you can not make a significant impact on someones life. Dont feel like your quarter or your dollar donation is insignificant. We can’t walk around with the mind set that others are going to fix problems of hunger, malnutrition, homelessness for us. We cant rely on others to change the world. WE have to be the CHANGE and the only way that this can happen is if we fight this war together.

I’m forming an army of Hunger Fighters. I need YOUR help.

If you want to become a Hunger Fighter email me by clicking my name: SHAWN HATJES
OR fill out a volunteer inquiry at this link:  http://grindouthunger.org/volunteer/

If you have the ability to donate money to the cause please click the button below.

If you are a kid and don’t have the ability to donate online, please shoot me an email and we can talk about how you can get your donation to Grind Out Hunger.

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On Wednesday, March 3^rd Second Harvest held its Annual Awards Dinner at the Elks Lodge in Santa Cruz. When people entered they walked down a red carpet, cameras flashing, everyone smiling, and Danny Keith asking guests quick questions for Second Harvest TV.  Danny would remind everyone that he spoke to that this night was “all about you”, and it was. In past years this dinner had always been full of representatives from businesses and organizations that supported Second Harvest, this year several bright young faces joined the ceremony. With students from Gateway Elementary, Aptos Jr. High, St. Francis High, and Monterey Coast Prep, several tables were full of kids that devoted their time and efforts to raising food for Grind Out Hunger this past year. Without them Grind Out Hunger could not have reached the 278,000 pounds it raised in 2010.

The attending schools were awarded Grind Out Hunger Skateboards with plaques mounted onto them. When the kids from the schools saw their awards their faces lit up with smiles. The room exploded with applause for each school. These kids are our future they are the ones that can end hunger issues within Santa Cruz County and beyond. To see all of the young faces at this year’s awards dinner was extraordinary. As each school received their award the kids would all quickly pull out their cameras and phones to take photos of it to share with all of their family and friends.

Gateway Elementary with their Grind Out Hunger Award

Dominic Cusimano, owner of 3D Construction, was recognized with one of the two “Generation Next” awards that were handed out that evening. Dominic helped out Grind Out Hunger by lending us tools as well as his skills to build all of the skate ramps that were used our 1^st Anuual Skateathon at Twin Lakes Church and our Skate Jam at Whole Foods – Santa Cruz.

Danny Keith talking to Dominic Cusimano on Second Harvest TV.

Jesse Gullings, well known skateboarder and owner of Jesse Gullings Painting, was awarded the other “Generation Next” award. Jesse, with his knowledge in skateboarding, also lent us a hand with building all of the ramps for the Skate Jams.

Dominic and Jesse both spent hours during weekends last year out at the Second Harvest Food Bank sawing, drilling, and building these skate ramps. Without Dominic and Jesse’s work the skate jams would never have happened. Big thanks to both of them for their time and support.

Danny Keith talking to Jesse Gullings on Second Harvest TV.

All of us at Second Harvest and Grind Out Hunger want to thank everyone that participated in the food drive this past year. We are looking forward to working with schools, old and new, during the next food drive. With such a successful year in 2010 we can only imagine what the future has in store for us in 2011.

Grind Out Hunger Awards:

Gateway Elementary – Most Pounds per Capita

Aptos Jr. High – Most Pounds per Capita

St. Francis High – Most Pounds per Capita

Monterey Coast Prep – Heavyweight Award, Most Pounds Overall

Dominic Cusimano – Generation Next

Jesse Gullings – Generation Next

Every pound raised during the Holiday Food Drive is being distributed by Second Harvest’s network of 200 local agencies and programs and their 3,000 volunteers. Together these agencies provide food and hope to 50,000 Santa Cruz County residents each month, half of whom are kids. A short video highlighting several of the agencies and the work that they do was shown at the dinner. Watch the Video

View a list of Second Harvest Member Agencies

View a complete list of all Award Winners

Special thanks to all of our Sponsors

Enjoy a slideshow of some photos taken at the event:

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Whole Foods Santa Cruz, a huge supporter of Grind Out Hunger, has been really stepping up their game. They have been hosting several small events at their store to raise money/food for Grind Out Hunger. These small events are not only helping raise food, but they are helping spread the word of our efforts at Grind Out Hunger.

Whole Foods BBQ raised 780 pounds for Grind Out Hunger

This past weekend Whole Foods fired up their outdoor grill and had a barbecue that was open to the public to enjoy. Grill master Pete was out grilling hot dogs and bbq chicken, serving them with sides of freshly made coleslaw and potato salad. The BBQ raised 780 pounds of food for Grind Out Hunger. Whole Foods plans to host many more events at their store in the future. We will be sure to keep you all updated.

Grill Master Pete serving up a to-go plate of grilled chicken.

Whole Foods has already planned their next event that will benefit Grind Out Hunger. On Friday, February 11th, from 8-10pm, Whole Foods in Santa Cruz will be hosting a Beer and Wine tasting event that will benefit Grind Out Hunger.

The event, entitled “Bubbles and Beauty” will include:

• Beer and Wine Tasting
• Gourmet vendors and Decadent Samples
• 30% off cosmetics
• $10 tasting free includes a FREE branded wine glass or beer snifter

Must be 21+

Grab some friends and head over to Whole Foods on Friday the 11th. You might get some neat ideas for Valentine’s Day. Join the Whole Foods team as they help to Grind Out Hunger.

RSVP to this event on Facebook here

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Grind Out Hunger 2010 goal of 250,000 pounds

7 years ago when Grind Out Hunger was founded, I would have never imagined that it could become such a powerful tool for the youth. As I sit here and write on this day of excitement and family gatherings aka Christmas Eve, I can only think of all of the families that will have a holiday meal because the youth of Santa Cruz County stepped up and made a dent in the overall need of Second Harvest Food Banks 2.1 Million pound goal. I started this year at St. Francis High School, John Marheineke invited me out and the students claimed “8000 pounds is our goal”…he pulled me aside and asked me if I was crazy they had never raised more than a couple hundred pounds…I said to him “watch what these kids will do”…bookend that with Monterey Coast Prep’s Sinda Merrit excerpt from Facebook chats and phone calls “Hi its Sinda, this year Monterey Coast Prep is planning to double 2009′s raise of 8000 pounds, just thought I would give you a heads up”…

Then the year was off to a whirl wind Santa Cruz County Fair on September 15th was the official kickoff for the window on Grind Out Hunger overall thousands of kids came through and dropped food into the Grind Out Hunger Halfpipe…I must mention that we had some serious support from the Strubing Family/Skateworks Skate Shop, 102.5 KDON and The Morning Madhouse, Jimbo Phillips Graphix, Second Harvest Food Bank, FRINGE Gear, TAC Apparel, Shawn Hatjes/Santa Cruz Waves, 3D Construction , Jesse Gullings Painting, SKATEBOARDS.com, Rotary Interact and Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop.

Once the year kicked off I then began my rounds to schools, Monterey Bay Academy, St Francis High, Ceiba College Prep, Ocean Alternative School, Spring Hill Elementary, Aptos Jr High, Mission Hill Middle School, Santa Cruz High, Soquel High, Monte Vista Christian, Lakeview Middle School, Salesian Elementary, Gateway Elementary, Cabrillo College and there are probably more I am missing that I visited. This is not including all of the schools that participated in the Grind Out Hunger contest!! Rio Del Mar Elementary, Monterey Coast Prep, Aptos High School, Harbor High, Watsonville High, UCSC and lots more. All along the way watching as kids eyes lit up realizing their goal…

There were special events this year, Tarp Surfing came on board and raised 500 pounds, Rapid Fire donated their concert proceeds to Grind Out Hunger, 3D Construction’s Dominc Cusimano and Jesse Gullings Painting along with wood donated from Big Creek and Pro Build built a mobile skatepark allowing Grind Out Hunger to have skate events with Twin Lakes Church and Rotary Interact had the 1st Annual Skateathon as did Whole Foods Santa Cruz and Rotary Interact Skate Jam. Whole Foods Capitola held a Taste of Elegance and a few anonymous donors supported Grind Out Hunger and the youth. Home Space/Work Space did a 3 day extravaganza raising over $1000.  Shawn Hatjes Photography made photo post cards and donated profits to Grind Out Hunger. Appetizer Media donated proceeds from their iPhone Game and tons of skateboards were sold this year by the schools. It seemed as if everyone in Santa Cruz County was aware of Grind Out Hunger and wanted to help.

People Magazine recognized Grind Out Hunger as an All Star Among Us which meant we got to stand at home plate during a SF Giants game and providing the chance to run some food drives in Atlanta and New Jersey which ultimately, the goal is to take Grind Out Hunger nationwide.

This was another year of press with Grind Out Hunger getting coverage in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Register Pajaronian, Aptos Times, Mid County Post, GoodTimes, Santa Cruz Weekly, The Huffington Post, People Magazine, KSBW 8, KION 46, Community TV and Santa Cruz Waves.

2010 was one of success, numerous schools went above the 10,000 pound mark while one school went above the 20,000 pound mark all skating towards the 250,000 pound goal for this year.

A full recap with poundage from each school is coming as Second Harvest is still tallying the results from all that was collected in the 2010 Grind Out Hunger campaign and I have a feeling…call it a hunch…ok I have inside info…because the youth of Santa Cruz County decided they wanted to feed kids this year I am confident we will meet that goal of 250,00 pounds.

As I close, please take a moment and recognize the youth of Santa Cruz County, their supporters, their schools and their hearts which drove them to collect as much food and cash as humanly possible to feed kids.

I also want to recognize the staff that made all of this possible at Second Harvest Food Bank, Willy Elliot-McCrea whom without I could have never gotten off the ground, Sam Neider my trusty Grind Out Hunger assistant, Bly Morales for helping me make sure I knew where I was supposed to be and snapping pics, Lisa Allyn for keeping the spreadsheet straight, Vicki Lowell for blogging it up, Clyde Kimura for handling all of those barrel pick ups at schools around the county, All of the Second Harvest Drivers that had to go into the schools and get those full barrels, Brooke Johnson for tolerating the madness of delivering ramps all over the place and blessing the use of trucks, Victor Kimura for organizing insurance coverage for the skate events, Ernesto Nieves for organizing the storage and delivery of the skate ramps, Carlos Juarez, Doug Brooks, Mark Rodriguez and Frank Hernandez for hauling and deploying ramps even in the pouring rain so kids could skate, Megan Riggs for coming out and manning the tables at the skate events and finally accounting for counting all those dollars and cents the kids donated to make our goal of 250,000 pounds. Meet the Second Harvest Staff Here I genuinely thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Enjoy the pics from this years 2010 Grind Out Hunger campaign….Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Stay tuned for a full update in 2011 as we announce the total pounds raised, the standouts that made it happen and the plans for 2011 Grind Out Hunger…

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Whole Foods Market Santa Cruz is a HUGE supporter of Grind Out Hunger and they are stepping up on December 5th from 10am to 4pm in their parking lot at 911 Soquel Dr. The Whole Foods Market Santa Cruz/Rotary Interact/Grind Out Hunger SkateJam on December 5th will be huge with over 15 obstacles to skate all you have to do is bring $10 or 10 pounds of food to skate all day and get a chance to win some great prizes (maybe another car???). Come down and help us feed kids this holiday season and enjoy some skating. Facebook Event Check out and RSVP to the event HERE. Download the flyer to post up here… Whole Foods Market/Rotary Interact/Grind Out Hunger SkateJam (199)

Whole Foods Market Santa Cruz/Rotary Interact/Grind Out Hunger SkateJam

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Thats right this event is going to be huge, kids you need to bring food/money to skate $10 or 10 pounds of food gets you in for a 2 hour session on our newly built ramps and obstacles! All wood was donated by Pro Build and Big Creek Lumber (110 sheets of plywood, 300 2×4′s etc) orchestrated all by 3D Construction.  The event will happen on October 30th at Twin Lakes Church parking lot from 10am to 4pm broken down into 3 groups:

• 10am to 12pm will be kids under 12 skating
• 12pm to 2pm will be kids under 14 skating
• 2pm to 4pm is open to all ages

Rotary Interact and Grind Out Hunger 1st Annual Skateathon!

There will be booths from local vendors and non profits participating to help feed children this holiday season. In addition there will be a raffle of skate goods, random local business prizes and the grand prize is a CAR!!! Raffle tickets will be sold the day of the event and through the Rotary Interact clubs. All poundage raised will count towards the school of your choice.

Please download the Rotary Interact and Grind Out Hunger 1st Annual Skateathon Flyer (185) and the Skateathon Booth Rental contract (157).

Visit and RSVP for the event on Grind Out Hunger Facebook Fan Page

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The students of Santa Cruz County need your support. Buy the 2010 Grind Out Hunger Skateboard and 100% of proceeds are donated directly to Second Harvest Food Bank. Designed by Jimbo Phillips Graphix when you buy this board the school of your choice will receive a 300 pound credit towards winning the contest in Santa Cruz County. The elementary, middle and high school that collects the most pounds per student will receive gift certificates from Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop and SkateWorks Skate Shop totaling over $1800 this year! 250,000 pounds is the goal this year can you help?