Over the next 30 days we're on a mission to raise $20,000--and we need your help! Please consider making a donation so we can keep HHF programming rolling steadily along in 2020 and beyond. And, please spread the word. We truly appreciate your support!

Check out our campaign video to learn how HHF programming has positively impacted the lives of long-time HHF mentor/coach Wade Yates and HHF Legacy Program participant Christian Alcantara.

Video shot and produced by Parlour Productions.

On Sunday, September 22nd, the 13th Annual HHF Bridgerun went down in NYC with funds raised in support of HHF's Skate Camp Scholarship program. Dozens of HHF supporters were in attendance to run, walk, skate and bike the 5-mile route.

Participants received a special edition Nike Dri-FIT event t-shirt designed by artist Curtis Kulig featuring a photo by Davide Sorrenti. If you missed the run and want a commemorative tee, limited quantities are available on the HHF online store here.

Special thanks to the NYC Bridgerunners for all their support and guidance, and Radeberger Pilsner who donated beer for the after party.

Wrap-up video shot and produced by Parlour Productions.

Today, Zoo York is releasing the second drop in its series of ZOO YORK x FOUNDERS capsule collections, created in collaboration with the brand’s founders, Rodney Smith, Eli Morgan Gesner and Adam Schatz. Earlier this year, the trio returned to the brand as creative directors.

The latest ZOO YORK x FOUNDERS release pays tribute to Harold, one of the Zoo Crew's original team members. To honor Harold’s memory, HHF will receive a portion of proceeds from the collection which is sold exclusively at ZooYork.com. Zoo has an ongoing relationship with the foundation, with Adam Schatz serving on the Board of Directors for more than a decade.

“Zoo York was such an important part of Harold’s life. We’re thrilled to be working with Zoo’s original management on a special collaboration honoring Harold’s legacy and benefiting HHF,” says Jessica Forsyth, Executive Director of the Harold Hunter Foundation.

The capsule consists of seven pieces, with most featuring archival photos of Harold accompanied by his legendary quotes. Key items include co-branded decks hand spray painted and signed by Eli Morgan Gesner, as well as short-sleeve and long-sleeve tees both emblazoned with Harold's image and the quote, “The little information I have, that’s what I know.” Additional items include a hoodie, beanie and waist bag, as well as a re-issue of a classic Zoo crewneck from 1995 with Harold’s name on the back.

ZOO YORK x FOUNDERS: DROP 002 is exclusively available online here.

On Thursday night, October 17, Vans hosted a special art/photo show at Artifact Gallery in NYC that benefited HHF programming.

MADE TOUGHER BY SKATEBOARDING featured a portrait series by Atiba Jefferson celebrating the Vans Drill Chore Coat with photos of John Cardiel, Amy Gunther, Nathan Fletcher, Geoff McFetridge, Jeff Han and Atiba Jefferson. In addition to photos, the participants designed custom Drill Chore Coats, each of which was auctioned off at the event with all proceeds donated to HHF.

There was a rad panel discussion hosted by Steve Rodriguez, and live performances by DJ Lloyd and Pretty Sick. Check out photos by Lauren June Kirsch.

On October 9, 2019 the 2nd Annual Skate & Serve charitable event was held at the Coleman Oval Skatepark in Manhattan's Lower East Side.

Skate & Serve is an ongoing collaboration between Trinity Wall Street and Go! Sports USA. At the LES event, free rentals and lessons were provided by some of NYC's top coaches, including several HHF members, and a panel discussion was held on the importance of skate sports and youth development.

Skate & Serve's mission is to have fun while providing service to the local community. The organization holds "brown bag" packing sessions so everyone can lend a hand in packing lunches for those in need.

Recap video shot and produced by Parlour Productions.

On Friday, September 27th, Skate Fest II went down at Ocean Hill Playground in Brownsville. The community event was organized by long-time HHF member and Brownsville native Wade Yates. It featured a pump track, contest, giveaways and scope meeting with city officials to discuss a proposed skatepark for the neighborhood. Wade has been advocating for the construction of a proper skatepark in Brownsville for many years now, and his efforts are beginning to pay off.

As Wade puts it, "Over the years I’ve gained the trust of the Parks Department by using my voice. They gave me an opportunity to help organize Skate Fest II. Skaters from Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx showed up to support, skate and win prizes. The community expressed how much they support the idea of bringing sport diversity into the neighborhood for the first time. The same people I grew up fighting with just to skate flat ground were at the meeting asking about the design of the park and interested in having something new here. I may have started this journey alone, but I’ve had about a hundred people help me get this far. Recently, the Parks Department has expressed to me that they want me to have all the control I can to make it the best skatepark in Brooklyn. But my goal is to make it the best skatepark in the entire city."

Keep up the great work, Wade! We're very proud of your determination and unwavering desire to better your local community. That's what it's all about.

Event recap video was shot and produced by Parlour Productions.

ICONIC URBAN ART PIONEER PHASE 2 COLLABORATES WITH HAROLD HUNTER FOUNDATION ON LIMITED-EDITION SKATEBOARD DECK

The Harold Hunter Foundation is proud to announce it has teamed up with iconic urban art pioneer PHASE 2 on an exclusive artist series skateboard deck that will be available in limited quantities at select retailers and galleries starting October 1, 2019.
 
Only 100 hand-numbered decks are available. Manufactured by Long Island’s Chapman Skateboards, each screen-printed collector’s deck features PHASE 2’s vibrant collage-style artwork inspired by legendary skateboarder Harold Hunter and the city that fueled his many creative pursuits.
 
“We’re excited to be working with PHASE 2 on this project because he’s one of New York’s original style writers whose work helped shape a creative movement that’s inspired generations of artists around the world for the past forty years,” says Jessica Forsyth, Harold Hunter Foundation Co-Founder and Executive Director.
 
The limited-edition Harold Hunter Foundation x PHASE 2 collaborative decks are a philanthropic effort with 40% of proceeds donated to the foundation. Coinciding with the deck release, PHASE 2’s original hand-cut work-of-art that the deck graphics are based on is available for purchase exclusively at ACA Galleries 1932 located at 529 West 20th Street in Manhattan.
 
As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Harold Hunter Foundation relies on financial support from the skate community and related outlets to achieve its mission of using skateboarding as a vehicle to provide underserved youth with valuable life experiences that nurture individual creativity, resourcefulness and the development of life skills. Charitable partnerships like PHASE 2 are vital to the long-term success of the foundation.
 
“When we were kids, we used to make skateboards with roller skates and 2x4s and ride on them around the block. As an art piece, I like the surface and shape of the pro boards,” says cultural icon PHASE 2. “With respect to Harold, who I knew through Zoo York in the ‘90s, I’ve been creating art in his honor since his passing. It’s super fitting to get this particular effort out to the masses not only as a tribute to him, but keeping his legacy alive as one of those super special and inspirational skaters of that time, for all time—one who any youth that aspires to be ‘that next one’ should be aware of.”
 
Harold Hunter Foundation x PHASE 2 limited-edition decks are available at Chapman Skateboards, ACA Galleries 1932, El Señor, Art Apple NYC, Eye Shut Island, and Mantis Lifestore.

ABOUT PHASE 2:
Born and raised in the Bronx, PHASE 2 is a first-generation New York City style writer and a founding father/primary instigator of the basic and wildest typography styles in the subway art movement of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Many of the initial components he introduced to the culture have become staples in its format worldwide. His signature “party fliers” played an important role in the spread of hip-hop culture throughout NYC and beyond, and he is among the very first aerosol artists to exhibit in galleries spanning the globe. He also played an integral role in the early days of break dancing and was instrumental in the formation of one of the most prolific B-boy crews ever assembled, which he named The New York City Breakers. From hip-hop fashion to iconic logos, PHASE 2’s global impact remains a guiding light for new generations of artists. Today, he continues on an unconventional, socially conscious path using creativity as his vehicle.

On Sunday, September 22, the 13th Annual HHF Bridgerun will be held to raise money for HHF's Skate Camp Scholarship program. Participants are welcome to run, walk, skate or bike the 5-mile route.

Check-in starts at 4:30pm on the rooftop of New Design High School located at 350 Grand Street in Manhattan (a bag check will be available at check-in). The run starts at 5:30pm.
 
Click here to register for Sunday's fun-run and after-party. When you register and make a suggested donation, you'll reserve a special edition Nike Dri-FIT event t-shirt designed by artist Curtis Kulig featuring a photo by Davide Sorrenti.  T-shirts will be distributed at check-in based on advance registration.

The after-party will start at 7:00pm at the NYC Bridgerunners' HQ located at 67 Loisaida Avenue (Avenue C @ East 5th Street). Beer at the party will be provided by Radeberger Pilsner.

Photos courtesy of Paulsta Wong.

Informed by the results of HHF's groundbreaking 2016 needs assessment of more than 300 NYC skaters, the HHF Legacy Program was launched in 2018. It combines skateboarding activities with life skills, college and career exploration, and year-round psycho-social support.

The “secret sauce” to the Legacy Program is organic mentorship, which honors the culture of skateboarding by embracing the spirit of freedom, independence, creativity, and spontaneity, while also allowing for authentic mentorship relationships to develop and grow naturally. In this way, we are able to give our young people what they want (to be part of an authentic skateboarding community) along with what they need (age-appropriate developmental activities and trauma-sensitive support).

In 2019, the 2nd cohort of the HHF Legacy Program culminated with an annual trip to Woodward in August. Once again, a group of 40 NYC skaters were connected with 3 coach-mentors trained through the Up2Us Sports Coach Across America program for 7 months of weekly skate sessions, 10 life-skills workshops and enrichment activities.

HHF would like to acknowledge the support of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, Up2Us Sports, adidas Skateboarding, Sheckler Foundation, and Nike Global Impact for the grants, sponsorships, and in-kind donations that make this program possible. Thank you!

From July 7th-9th, HHF Legacy Program members Christian Alcantara and Jack Discon were two of just four NYC youth selected to fly to LA to participate in the first-annual Laureus Youth Leadership Summit, a conference dedicated to empowering young leaders and strengthening youth-serving programs.

"Sports brings everybody together no matter what nationality or social status," says Christian Alcantara. "If you play a sport, you're automatically a family with your teammates. That's what I really learned today and what I learn everyday when I skate."

Occurring the same week as the ESPYs and ESPN Humanitarian Awards, the Summit put youth voice at the forefront of the conversation as participants explored the role sport can play in building leaders. More than 200 athletes, executives, and young people from across the country shared their insights on how to best design programs that are informed by, and responsive to, the youth they serve. It was an extremely positive and rewarding experience for all involved.

"Being professional, how I carry myself, how I stand up and public speak, how I introduce myself to people... It's just an all-around life-changing experience," says Jack Discon about attending the conference.

Laureus Foundation, now HHF’s largest institutional supporter, recently provided HHF with a $40,000 capacity building grant to continue to refine and assess the design and impact of the Legacy Program and to support expansion of parallel fundraising efforts. HHF is honored and grateful to have the support of the Laureus Foundation.

To learn more about the Laureus Youth Leadership Summit, click here.