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.