- Grind Out Hunger 2010 Sponsors
Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop put Grind Out Hunger on the map in 2003 by recognizing the need to inspire children in the schools that year the total raise was 8000 pounds. Fast Forward to 2009 and the youth of Santa Cruz County pulled in 130,000 pounds bringing the 7 year total to around 500,000 pounds overall.
SkateWorks Skate Shop, born and bred skateboarding in Santa Cruz County for over 22 years, will bring a steady constituency of hard core skateboarders to help drive the message of feeding children. Jason Strubing managing partner states “turn those canned lima beans in the back of the pantry into a new skateboard? Sounds like a win-win. I wish that option was available when I was in school…” he goes on to say “seriously, how can we be letting kids go hungry in Santa Cruz County?”. SkateWorks Skate Shop is a new partner for 2010.
KDON 102.5 has been a community leader for quite some time when asked about the reason to support Grind Out Hunger, Sam Diggedy of KDON 102.5’s The Morning Madhouse quips “Anything that gets kids helping kids, KDON wants to be a part of, especially when it has to do with skateboarding and feeding children.” KDON 102.5 has been a part of Grind Out Hunger since 2008.
Jimbo Phillips has been a skateboard artist since the day he was born. Jimbo bought in early for Grind Out Hunger, “I feel blessed to be doing what I do and this is a way for me to give back to the community and feed kids through my art” creating the FoodBank skater, he has lent his creative hand to a worthy cause, Jimbo explains “Seeing the effect and response to the skateboard art I created, the graphic provided the breath of life needed for Grind Out Hunger to succeed”. Jimbo Phillips Graphix has been a partner since 2006.
Local Rotarians encompass the mission statement “The mission of Rotary is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.” And they have not missed a beat by stepping in and networking the 7 area Rotary Interact clubs in the high schools to get involved. Through this pilot ambassadorship Grind Out Hunger truly has the legs it needs to be successful now more than ever.
Grind Out Hunger was created through the vision of skateboarders helping kids overcome hunger. Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop founded Grind Out Hunger with the one goal of inspiring kids to help kids; Danny Keith mentions “by going directly to the schools and talking with the kids, it has a huge impact.” Grind Out Hunger is an educational piece challenging local elementary, middle and high schools to raise food and money for hungry children in the community. The school that raises the most pounds per student is awarded gift certificates to Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop and SkateWorks Skate Shop total valued at $1800. Keith continues “The collaboration between students and Grind Out Hunger has been very successful raising over 500,000 pounds together”. This year UCSC and Cabrillo colleges will enter the fray to compete as well.
Grind Out Hunger 2010 goal is 250,000 pounds to almost double last year’s raise of 130,000 pounds. The window this year starts September 15th with the Santa Cruz County Fair education days and completes itself December 20th.
The 2010 Grind Out Hunger skateboard deck is hand drawn by Jimbo Phillips and will be sold for $100 with all proceeds benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County and awarded to the winning schools as annual trophy.
Please contact Bly Morales or Samantha Neider at Second Harvest Food Bank to get involved.
Websites to visit
http://www.thefoodbank.org
http://www.grindouthunger.org
http://www.santacruzbuilt.com
http://www.skateworks.com
http://www.kdon.com
http://www.jimbosgraphix.com
http://www.skateboards.com
