The District Magazine Vol. 1 Issue 4, Winter 2016 | Page 36

Michele Box Executive Director Boards for Bros Why is Boards for Bros (BfB) special to you? B4B is special because I witnessed the transformative power that skateboarding had on my son. He was always a very physical child and was interested in trying every sport he ever encountered, but he disliked team sports. Skateboarding was something he could do on his own, wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted with the support of a community of skaters who made him feel a part of the “family”. I want all kids to have access to that outlet - I want to tear down all economic barriers to being a part of the skate community. How does BfB affect the community? It is commonly accepted that recreational opportunities have an enormous positive impact on youth. We break down the economic and social barrier to recreation for young people who are often forgotten. We provide an affordable and impactful activity for kids who don’t get covered by traditional team sports based recreational programs. We take care of the kids who don’t want to/can’t afford to join a team or don’t live in one place long enough to commit to a “season.” With skateboarding, you need your skateboard and some pavement - that’s all! What is your favorite memory from BfB? I organized a distribution with a local foster group home. There was one kid who was a natural and looked like he had been skating his whole life. He appeared distant and sad during the event, but at the end of the day, he gave me a big hug and said he had always borrowed other people's boards and dreamed of having one of his own one day. Over a year and a half later he came to watch Tampa Am at Skatepark of Tampa and hung out with us in the Boards for Bros tent. He very proudly told me he had purchased his own skateboard using the money he earned at a part-time job and he had passed along his Boards for Bros board to another kid in foster care. A lasting and meaningful impact on kids’ lives - we see it every day. How are the boards donated? Boards come from skaters and skate industry partners. Locally, skaters drop off their gently used equipment in the shop at Skatepark of Tampa or other regional drop off locations. Often board companies and other shops will also ship us donations from across the country. How can someone become a volunteer? People can sign up for our volunteer list by sending us an email at [email protected]. For our Build Days (we do three a year at Skatepark of Tampa), volunteers can just show up and help us assemble boards - no need to sign up in advance and we train you on the spot. 36 36 Why is giving a skate board so impactful? It transforms the person who receives the skateboard and the skateboarder volunteer. The new skater gets immediate access to a tool that teaches perseverance, promotes exercise and provides an outlet for personal expression. Our skateboarder volunteers are empowered to solve problems within their communities through skateboarding. Collecting and assembling a stack of skateboards as well as Identifying, teaching and engaging kids is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. They all see that they can have a positive impact on their community while doing what they love to do. It’s a winning formula - healthier kids plus more youth involved in community betterment. Where does the organization need the most help? We are always in need of cash donations to fill the gaps in our equipment donations. We always have to purchase trucks and bearings for our skateboards since skaters tend to use those parts until they are garbage. We are very lucky that our industry partners sell us these parts at deeply discounted prices so a donated dollar has a lot of purchasing power. Also, we would love to partner with local businesses looking for community service projects to sponsor Board Build Days. Individual donations can be made at boardsforbros. org/donate or donation jars at Skatepark of Tampa and The Bricks.