More Than a Celebration

On June 21, 2012, National Go Skateboarding Day will hold its 11^th consecutive event to raise awareness about skateboarding and to celebrate the sport loved by millions. National Skateboarding Day is more than just a party; the event enables a number of charities and organizations to raise funds and promote awareness for a variety causes.

Skateistan

Skateistan is the first co-educational skateboarding school in the world. Skateistan was founded by Oliver Percovich, in hopes of engaging a “growing number of urban and internally-displaced youth in Afghanistan through skateboarding, and provides them with new opportunities in cross-cultural interaction, education, and personal empowerment” (“Afghanistan Skateistan,” n.d.).

The school offers free tuition for students and strives to develop their leadership skills to prepare them for the future. Skateistan is committed to the development of female skateboarders, a rarity in a country where women struggle for equal rights.

You can help the cause by visiting the Skateistan website and making a donation, purchasing apparel, or offering a sponsorship. They are also looking for enthusiastic volunteers to work in Kabul, and are hiring for full time positions.

Grind for Life

Grind For Life, Inc. was founded by skateboarder Mike Rogers to assist cancer patients and their families with indirect expenses from medical care. Patients that qualify may receive financial assistance for “travel and lodging expenses, meal, and personal needs” (“About Our,” n.d.).

Founder Mike Rogers has waged a heroic battle with cancer, enduring “a 17 hour surgery, a cranial-facial resection with a brain-lift, removal of his eye, cheekbone, and half of the roof of his mouth and some teeth” (“About Our,” n.d.).

Grind for life hopes to build an apartment complex adjacent to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in Manhattan, so families of patients can be with patients receiving treatment. You can help by attending festivals and events, purchasing donated goods through Ebay, and donating to fundraisers.  

"Afghanistan | Skateistan." Skateistan. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. <http://skateistan.org/content/afghanistan>.

"About Our Founder ." Grind for Life: Helping People with Cancer. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. <www.grindforlife.org/about.asp>.