 Homage Skateboards turns 15 this June, and to celebrate this major milestone they’ve teamed up with pro skater/artist Alexis Sablone for a limited-edition deck collaboration. Now available through the Homage website and in-store, a portion of proceeds from each deck sold will be donated to the Harold Hunter Foundation, Skateistan, and The Skatepark Project. "I was happy to design a series for Homage because I love what they’re about and everything they do for the local skate community. For me, every creative process starts with too many directions and only through drawing and redrawing does one idea continue to reappear—to stick. I can’t say why it happens, but it does, and it's that idea I try to run with. With a series like this one, once I have one small piece decided, I like to build a narrative around it to find the others. The resultant story might not be fully coherent or even readily apparent to others, but it’s a story, to me, nonetheless, that ties everything together." -Alexis Sablone     As members of the global skateboarding community, we have come together to make a collective commitment to actively resist and challenge systemic racism in our own scenes, organizations, the skateboard industry, and wider society. The Commitment to Anti-Racism in Skateboarding is an idea led by the Goodpush Alliance, together with members from a dozen social skateboarding organizations worldwide. HHF is very proud to be a supporter of this initiative. The goals of the Commitment to Anti-Racism in Skateboarding are to:
Click here to read and sign the Commitment to Anti-Racism in Skateboarding.    HHF IS GROWING As we launch our 2021 programs season, we are transitioning to a new community outreach model of our Legacy Program, designed to be responsive to emerging community needs and expand HHF’s reach and impact in the skate community via informal skate sessions, one-on-one support, work and life skills workshops, mutual aid initiatives, and outreach events. We have made a major investment in HHF infrastructure by adding 6 new Coach/Mentors and a Community Outreach Coordinator via continued essential support from Up2Us Sports’ AmeriCorps Coach and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) programs, as well as a Social Worker and new Director of Programs. We are extremely proud that each of these positions is held by a passionate NYC skateboarder. HHF PROGRAMS LEADERSHIP TEAM:  HHF COACH/MENTORS:  HHF Coach/Mentors are credible messengers from within the skateboarding community who have deep lived experience with the challenges our youth face. Under the supervision of our Social Worker, they act as skatepark stewards, provide case management, mentorship, and psychosocial support; connect youth/young adult skateboarders with resources and opportunities; and recruit them into more structured workforce readiness and youth development programs. They receive training in ethics, mental health first aid/crisis intervention, trauma-informed coaching, suicide prevention, peer counseling, case management, restorative justice practices, and bystander intervention. HHF COLLABORATIONS  A sincere thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate Harold’s 47th Birthday on April 2nd by purchasing a limited-edition "Collector's Deck" designed by Seth Neary featuring classic Harold photos by Gunars Elmuts. The decks sold out in just 5-hours with all proceeds supporting HHF programming.  A handful of Element x HHF “Legends Never Die” decks are still available exclusively through Element’s website. This charitable deck is part of a larger year-long Element partnership that will result in a series of collaborative HHF initiatives supporting NYC youth by leveraging skateboarding, art, sustainability, and professional development.  Couch Curbs, run by Willy Santos, recently launched an artist series collaboration with skate icon Chris “Dune” Pastras. The anti-racism themed collection is available on the Couch Curbs website and includes a t-shirt, dad hat, and screen-printed red curb pillow for your couch. A portion of proceeds will be donated to HHF.  USA Skateboarding has teamed up with artist Henry Jones on a limited-edition product capsule in an effort to fight racism. Available for purchase here, the collection features a deck, hat, t-shirt, griptape, stickers, and mug. 10% of net proceeds will be donated to HHF. Plus, all orders support Team USA on the road to Tokyo 2021. We have a lot planned over the coming months. Without the continued support of the HHF community, none of it would be possible. THANK YOU for your support!
 In celebration of Harold's 47th Birthday (April 2, 1974), we're proud to release a limited-edition collector's deck with all proceeds benefiting the Harold Hunter Foundation. Featuring a hand-cut collage design by Seth Neary of Driven Studio, only 47 decks are available and each comes with an 8"x12" print of the classic 1995 Harold photo featured on the board graphic. Each "Bleecker Banks" print is signed by photographer Gunars Elmuts. This exclusive deck ($75) is 8.125" wide and manufactured by Chapman Skateboards. UPDATE: SOLD OUT SETH NEARY PROJECT STATEMENT: I love New York City! Growing up on a dirt road in Vermont and fantasizing about break dancing, hip hop, and skateboarding, NYC was very influential in my young life. Thankfully by the grace of skateboarding, I would make my way to NYC for occasional skate trips and, in the '90s, if you were skating in NYC you were bound to see Harold. I first met Harold through my good friend Gunars Elmuts. PSNY sponsored us both for a short time. Harold was mad cool, funny, and inclusive. He made me feel welcome in NYC in his way. We skated, hit Spoon, laughed, stayed out late, and peaced out. I'd see Harold on almost every trip to NYC in the '90s. When the HHF crew asked me to create a board graphic for Harold’s birthday, I was not only humbled but honored—and nervous as hell. Harold is NEW YORK! Harold is dearly missed, and Harold is a legend! I contacted Gunars and asked him if I could use some of his images of Harold, and he graciously said, "Of course." Gunars sent me a folder of photos and, after combing through, I recognized a session at Bleecker Banks (Bird Shit Banks). The sequence was something all skaters can relate to—the warm-up ollie, couple throwaways, the aggression and frustration, the make, and finally the smile and high-five. Gunars captured it all. It was intimate; it was a rad one-on-one session, and it’s a time capsule. I chose the "make" photo and one "frustration" photo and collaged the rest. I reached out to Andre Razo, my consigliere, for consultation and got the nod. The process was organic and heartfelt. I love skateboarding, NYC, and Harold. Legends Never Die. GUNARS ELMUTS PROJECT STATEMENT: I'm always excited to help HHF. What they do for under-served kids in NYC is incredible. I know Harold would be proud! He was always so encouraging and generous with everyone who wanted to skate. HHF is completely in line with who Harold was as a person. The day we shot these photos was super fun. Harold came by PSNY on 6th Avenue (where I sponsored him before Supreme took over) and we went down to Bleecker Street (a block away) and shot what you see here. It was just me and him. Harold always wanted to shoot photos. I remember we were trying to shoot a sequence of a trick and he kept bailing. I shot about four rolls of film without a make so I just tossed the film down the street—which I now regret—since I didn't want to spend the time or money to develop film with no makes! So, we went back to just shooting stills of the straight heelflip. This photo ended up in TW Skate—Harold and I were pretty stoked about that. Over the years a lot of people told me they had this picture on their wall from the mag, so having it on a deck now seems like a great place for it to live on. I hope the board gets skated and destroyed as Harold would've done—that's why we decided to include a signed photo with each order. It'll be cool to see before and after pics of the deck once it's been thrashed!    We're stoked to officially kick-off our 2021 partnership with Element Skateboards today on Skate Shop Day. A special “Legends Never Die” gold foil deck (8.25”) is now available in limited quantities at select skate shops with proceeds benefiting HHF. Shops carrying the charitable deck include: Labor, KCDC, Skate Brooklyn, Substance, Supreme Brooklyn, Uncle Funkys, 2ntr, Station RBNY, NJ, Theory, Old Skull, Kinetic, Vu, Plus, Black Sheep, No Comply, Familia, Subsect, Uprise, 303, Satellite, Cowtown, Brooklyn Projects, FTC, Tactics, and 35th North. Huge shout out to Donny Barley and Brandon Westgate for hand-delivering collab decks to the NY/NJ shops during yesterday's snowstorm. These dudes are down for the cause and just straight up rule—but everyone knows that! The Element x HHF deck is also available on Element's website. Click here to buy yours now. #LegendsNeverDie   Over the past thirty years, Element Skateboards has made it a point to be a positive force within skateboarding as well as being “conscious by nature,” supporting both social and environmental responsibility. Given the many challenges of 2020, Element was compelled to do more. This year, as part of the brand’s efforts to promote more diversity and inclusivity within skateboarding, Element is proud to join forces with the non-profit Harold Hunter Foundation. The union will result in a series of collaborative initiatives throughout 2021 that will support NYC youth by leveraging skateboarding, art, sustainability, and professional development. “HHF has worked with Element for many years, including sending HHF skaters to Element’s skate camps where they learned valuable life lessons and experienced nature and a world beyond NYC,” said Ray Mendez, HHF Creative Director and AmeriCorps VISTA. “HHF is now in its 15th year of serving NYC youth. We’ve seen first-hand that skateboarding has the power to transform lives, and we’re extremely grateful for Element’s support as we continue with our mission.” Professional development will be a strong focus for Element and HHF in the year ahead. Creating inspiring mentorships and unique learning experiences for the HHF community will allow them to dream bigger. It’s not necessarily about becoming a professional skateboarder—the real goal is to expose NYC youth to new ideas and expanded possibilities by connecting them with Element team riders, staff, and industry veterans they normally wouldn’t have access to.
“It’s really important for these kids to know they aren’t alone,” said Donny Barley, Element Sales Rep and former Element Pro. “The goal is to listen and brainstorm together on what a future career path could look like—whatever that may be for each individual we’re working with.” Video produced by Parlour Productions.  With 2021 now in full swing, we wanted to take a moment to reflect upon our many accomplishments in 2020 despite the formidable challenges we all faced. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Harold Hunter Foundation relies on financial support from the community to execute a variety of youth-focused programming that positively impacts the lives of NYC skateboarders. We are proud to say that, thanks to the support of many wonderful donors and friends, HHF was able to successfully navigate the difficulties of 2020 and is well positioned for 2021. In 2020, HHF raised a total of $267,093 as well as invaluable in-kind support. This support came from a variety of sources, including:
The support we received in 2020 enabled us to work directly with more than 150 NYC skateboarders. Programming focused on pandemic safety, voting rights and registration, handling police encounters, racial injustice, community service, workforce readiness, LGBTQ+ rights, and female empowerment. In the year ahead, we are making a major investment in HHF infrastructure by growing our Programs Team from 4 to 9 individuals, including adding 4 new Coach/Mentors and a Community Outreach Coordinator via continued essential support from Up2Us Sports’ AmeriCorps Coach and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) programs, as well as a Social Worker and a new Director of Programs. We are proud that every one of these positions will be held by passionate, committed skateboarders from the NYC skate community. Our expanded Programs Team will help us to:
2021 is going to be a very exciting year, and it simply would not be possible without the support of our incredible HHF community. Thank you! Photos by Cole Giordano.   The good folks at Pindejo recently dropped a super rad Harold-inspired enamel pin based on Giovanni Reda's classic HH photo. Proceeds from the sale of this limited-edition pin will be donated to the Harold Hunter Foundation. Click here to get yours while supplies last. Bart Hunter? Harold Simpson? Not sure, but it’s 🔥🔥🔥     We’re hyped to announce TACTICS just dropped their limited-edition “Push Equality” capsule featuring artwork by Jerome McCaskill II. 100% of profits will be donated to the Harold Hunter Foundation. Purchase a collab tee and/or hoodie now to show your support for equality and inclusion in skateboarding and beyond.       Our friends at USA Skateboarding are proud to present a collaborative product capsule featuring custom artwork by Henry Jones. The anti-racism themed collection features a deck, tee, hat, griptape, stickers, and mug. 10% of net proceeds will be donated to the Harold Hunter Foundation and Stoked Mentoring. Click here to order now and support HHF, Stoked, and the USA Skateboarding team on their road to Tokyo 2021.         |
Harold Hunter FoundationThe Harold Hunter Foundation (HHF) is a grassroots, community-based organization that provides support, opportunity, and advocacy for skateboarders in NYC and beyond. Archives
October 2021
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