On Wednesday, March 3rd 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 1st 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
Its amazing what the youth can do when empowered. What started out 7 years ago as a way to teach kids altruism and compassion for their community has turned into a full blown spectacle. The goal for 2010 Grind Out Hunger campaign in Santa Cruz County was 250,000 pounds almost double 2009′s raise of 130,000 pounds.
This year was a bit different, Grind Out Hunger added a new partner with Skateworks Skateshop
Bill Strubing of Skateworks Skateshop
to combine forces with Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop, Jimbo Phillips Graphix and 102.5 KDON. 2010 for Grind Out Hunger was by far the craziest it has ever been, with the need to feed kids up more than ever and the students buckling down and getting serious about rising to the challenge.
St Francis came and helped at Santa Cruz County Fair
It all started with the Santa Cruz County Fair and education days collecting over 3000 pounds, great start to a busy year.
Then the speaking tour began, St Francis High, Aptos Jr. High, Cabrillo College, Gateway Elementary, Happy Valley Elementary, Lakeview Middle School, Santa Cruz High, Salesian Elementary and the list goes on.
3D Constructions Dominic Cusimano is a madman!
3D Constructions Dominic Cusimano and Jesse Gullings Painting spent over a month building ramps at Second Harvest Food Bank so that Grind Out Hunger could do the 1st Annual Skateathon sponsored by Rotary Interact at Twin Lakes Church raking in over 13,000 pounds of food and giving away a 1999 Red Mustang (WHAT!).
1st Annual Skateathon at Twin Lakes Church raised 13,000 pounds of food
That led to Whole Foods Market Santa Cruz stepping up and throwing down the 1st annual SkateJam presented by Whole Foods Market Santa Cruz and Rotary Interact (see the theme here?) both of these events were peppered by rain but it did not deter the kids from coming out and skating while donating food to a great cause.
Whole Foods Market Santa Cruz and The Skate Jam
It seemed that the kids were on a roll, school after school was smashing their previous years raise and setting new standards, gauntlets were being thrown down and some claims of who was beating who at what were circulating around feverishly as no one wanted to be left behind on this one. With $1800 in gift certificates up for grabs from Skateworks Skateshop and Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop, here are your 2010 Grind Out Hunger Champions!
The 2010 Grind Out Hunger Heavy Weight Champion was Monterey Coast Preparatory, Sinda Merritt and her students really set the bar raising over 21,000 pounds of food!! This amazing group of angels were relentless in their pursuit of raising food for kids putting the goal well ahead of themselves. Over the last three years with Grind Out Hunger, Sinda and crew have pulled in just under 40,000 pounds of food…not bad for 25 kids (do the math thats 1600 pounds per student!) Monterey Coast Prep takes home $600 in gift certificates to Skateworks Skateshop and Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop.
These kids got creative capping off their drive with "FREE" gift wrapping that raised thousands of dollars!
St Francis Central Coast Catholic High School, John Marheineke and the students invited Grind Out Hunger to come speak at their campus. Just over 200 kids attend the school and had barely participated in the food drive in years past. This was the 1st stop for 2010 Grind Out Hunger, you could feel the energy from the kids and they were pumped up. When asked what their goal was, the students blurted out “8000 POUNDS”…later when speaking with John he was obviously worried, “How in the world are we going to do that??”. In reality it didn’t matter if they did, the fact was they had a goal, were focused and no matter what they would give it 100%. Grind Out Hunger is proud to say that the students and staff not only hit the 8000 pounds they passed it. Congrats on the 10,001 pounds!!!!! St Francis Central Coast Catholic High School skates away with $600 in gift certificates to Skateworks Skateshop and Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop.
St Francis Central Coast Catholic High School sold 10 Grind Out Hunger skate decks totaling 3000 pounds!
Aptos Jr. High was a veteran of 2009 Grind Out Hunger and they lost no time is establishing that 2010 was going to be a record breaker. Brian Saxton and his students proceeded to make challenges, prizes and selling hot cocoa…whatever it took to hit 10,000 pounds. Well…Aptos Jr. High not only did that they went to a whopping 11,662 pounds. Aptos Jr. High pulls a repeat and wheels away $300 in gift certificates to Skateworks Skateshop and Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop.
Aptos Jr. High presents a check to Grind Out Hunger for $3500 or 10,500 pounds!
Gateway Elementary is also no stranger to the Grind Out Hunger challenge. The staff and students here always get creative and focus on the end goal of feeding kids. The presentation at Gateway is always fun as the kids are so inquisitive about how the food gets distributed, what kind of food can they bring in and how much more the dollar actually allows the purchase of healthy nutritious food. Thank goodness this is our future at work, its apparent that if we continue to provide altruistic ways for the youth of today to participate, society will become a better place. Gateway Elementary dropped 6,545 pounds into the barrels and captured 1st place for Elementary schools. Gateway Elementary slashes its way to $300 in gift certificates to Skateworks Skateshop and Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop.
Gateway students are always excited when Grind Out Hunger starts up!
At the end of it all, the youth in all their amazingness (is that a word?) managed to roll right by the 250,000 pound number, sliding in at a cool 278,616 pounds setting a new record and firmly placing the youth of Santa Cruz County as the 3rd largest contributor to the Second Harvest Holiday Food Drive 2.1 million pound goal. It is impressive the direction that Grind Out Hunger is going and there is some amazing news on the horizon for this kid powered charity so stay tuned! Below is a list of the winners of the 2010 Grind Out Hunger Challenge with a full list of schools…is your school involved? If not email HERE and get involved.
Award Division
Pounds of food raised
School Name
Heavy Weight Winner
21,001
Monterey Coast Preparatory
High School Winner
10,281
St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High
Jr. High School Winner
11,662
Aptos Junior High School
Elementary School Winner
6,545
Gateway Elementary School
Here is a total showing of all 2010 Grind Out Hunger schools, the 1st line is a total of all events like skate jams, online cash donations and anonymous donors. This year was a 1st for the colleges UCSC and Cabrillo College to participate in Grind Out Hunger. Both of these campuses are like small cities with over 40,000 students and staff between them its obvious that the partnership with higher education has some incredible possibilities!
Pounds of food raised
School Name
99,774
Grind Out Hunger events (skatejams etc)
47,027
UCSC students
21,001
Monterey Coast Preparatory
11,662
Aptos Junior High School
10,281
St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High
6,545
Gateway School
6,127
Cabrillo College – Aptos Campus
6,027
Monte Vista Christian Middle School
5,683
Shoreline Middle School
5,069
Salesian Elementary & Junior High
4,960
Monterey Bay Academy
4,731
Rio Del Mar Elementary School
4,592
Aptos High School
3,245
Watsonville High School
3,168
La Selva Beach Community School
2,830
Soquel High School
2,487
Mission Hill Middle School
2,356
Brook Knoll Elementary School
1,821
H.A. Hyde Elementary
1,585
Landmark Elementary
1,560
Valencia Elementary School
1,532
Lakeview Middle School
1,512
Santa Cruz High School
1,320
Ceiba Charter School
1,181
Soquel Elementary School
1,156
Pajaro Middle School
1,112
Alianza Charter School
1,056
De Laveaga Elementary School
1,029
Santa Cruz Montessori School
1,019
Westlake Elementary School
1,010
Bradley Elementary
892
Radcliff Elementary School
803
Moreland Notre Dame School
791
Bayview Elementary
777
Pajaro Valley High School
753
Gault Elementary School
743
Main Street Elementary
705
Monte Vista Christian High School
672
Green Acres Elementary School
610
Harbor High School
582
Happy Valley Elementary School
561
Linscott Charter School
541
Del Mar Elementary
530
Live Oak Elementary School
503
Spring Hill Advanced Elementary School of Santa Cruz
490
Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School
485
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary School
436
Aptos Academy (Elem)
416
Mt. Madonna School (Elem)
398
Green Valley Christian School
333
Mar Vista Elementary
261
Pacific Coast Charter School
250
Pacific Elementary School
229
New Brighton Middle School
221
Mountain Elementary School
197
Montessori Scotts Valley Preschool
181
Cabrillo College – Watsonville Campus
154
Neighorhood Childcare Center
140
Learning Ways Christian Preschool / Congregational Church of Soquel
131
Ocean Alternative Education Center
93
The Bay School
88
Santa Cruz Waldorf School
78
UCSC – BSU (Black Students United)
68
E.A. Hall Middle School
30
Head Start
28
Happy Days Children’s Learning Center
278,616
Total Pounds Raised 2010 Grind Out Hunger
There are also some honorable mentions of schools that made this their 1st year with Grind Out Hunger. Watch out for these schools next year!
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”…
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…
Especially when its skateboarders looking to help feed kids. 4am rolls around and I walk outside…ground is wet, but not raining. 5:30 am Dominic Cusimano and I head over to Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop where we have been stashing the 1999 Mustang 5.0, we say a little prayer that it starts and ask for a good day. I jump in the Mustang and start her up, the car rumbles to life…and so does the rain.
1999 Mustang bring your 10 pounds of food or $10
From 6am to 10:10am it was a torrential downpour with moments of clear sky…on those moments of blue sky, 6 of us bust out the ramp layout and quickly re-tarp the ramps so they don’t get soggy….
Nothing will stop the Skateathon!
10am and kids are rolling up with food to donate so they can skate. By 10:10 our group decided we were going for it and for the rest of the day we had sunshine and partly cloudy skies for the kids to skate.
Zane busts a move...
Watsonville Fire Department made an appearance
Watsonville Fire Department
as did Jimbo Phillips
Grind Out Hunger artist extraordinare Jimbo Phillips and DK
and SC Family Nate Linford.
SC Family Nate Linford
About 50 to 60 kids came through and donated food and cash for a chance to win the 1999 Mustang and skate all day on newly built ramps. at 1pm DJ Tech Minds made his appearance and began to spin the beats for the skaters as the kids kept skating till the end at 4pm.
DJ Tech Minds
All in all the day was a HUGE success with 13,450 pounds of food and cash equivalent raised to feed kids in Santa Cruz County.
Once it became time to give away the 1999 Mustang we all joked about how a 13 year old kid would probably win…well guess what one DID!!! Gideon Walsh brought 30 pounds of food equivalent and walked away with the car!!
WINNER!!! 1999 Mustang 5.0
Gideon Walsh drives away 1999 Mustang 5.0
Special Thanks to the following people/businesses that made all of this happen: Rotary Interact, Georgeann Eiskamp, Dominic Cusimano, 3D Construction, Jesse Gullings Painting, Roy Gullings, Billy MacLaughlin, Second Harvest Food Bank Warehouse crew, Arenas Towing, Big Creek Lumber, Pro Build Lumber, State Steel, Santa Cruz/Aptos Towing, Isaiah’s Auto Detailing, Jimbo Phillips Graphix, KDON 102.5, TAC Apparel, Fringe Gear, Skateworks Skateshop, Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop, Shawn Hatjes, SantaCruzWaves.com, Twin Lakes Church family, Steve Craig and I am sure there are many more people that made this day magical.
Thats right just when you thought the Skateathon was super fantabulous we went one step further and secured a 1999 Mustang 5.0 to raffle off!!! When you bring your 10 pounds of food or $10 you will get raffle tickets towards winning this awesomely divine car. Dominic Cusimano of 3D Construction has gone above and beyond for this event and Aptos Towing was kind enough to donate the car. So make sure you come down tomorrow and get some skating in and get a chance to win a car!! See you 10am tomorrow!!! Twin Lakes Church.
3D Construction and Aptos Towing up the ante with a 1999 Mustang!
Rotary Interact and Grind Out Hunger 1st Annual Skateathon!
P.S DJ Tech Minds will be showing up around noon to spin some beats and make the event as festive as it can be, feel free to come in costume!
