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.

On July 17th, Beyond the Streets, the premier exhibition of graffiti and street art, hosted a charity event for the Harold Hunter Foundation at its Brooklyn event space. Hip hop artist Cam’ron emceed the event, which was attended by several hundred art lovers, skateboarders and HHF supporters.

Renowned skateboarder and artist Mark Gonzales created a line of limited edition, hand-painted basketballs specifically for the event. All proceeds from the sale of these one-of-a kind items supported HHF programming. Thanks, Gonz!

Beyond the Streets will remain open through September 29, 2019. Learn more and get tickets here. Photos courtesy of Angela Owens.

In late June, the Sheckler Foundation headed to Harlem to present the Harold Hunter Foundation with a $10,000 "Be the Change" grant. This was stop #3 of the Skate for a Cause Tour featuring Ryan Sheckler, Chaz Ortiz, Fabrizio Santos, Oakley, Red Bull and the extended HHF family and friends.

To learn more, please click here. Photos and video courtesy of the Sheckler Foundation.

The official HH Weekend recap video was filmed by HHF Filmer Project apprentices Muhammad Floyd, Gustavo Morla, Naquan Rollings, and AJ Prather along with mentors Ray Mendez and Mike Sassano, and edited by HHF Filmer Project mentor Andrey Piontkovski.

Another successful Harold Hunter Weekend went down from Thursday May 31 – Sunday June 2 in NYC. Many thanks to the support of presenting sponsor adidas Skateboarding and sponsors G-Shock, Zumiez, HUF, Zoo York, Skullcandy, Supreme, Dickies, Arizona, Labor, and KCDC, for an awesome line-up of 6 events over 4 days that raised more than $70,000 to support HHF programs for 2020.
 
The festivities took place across downtown New York City. Click here to check out Blair Alley’s coverage of the HH Day Skate Jam in TransWorld SKATEboarding.
 
This year’s Skate Industry Panel discussion hosted by G-Shock featured Leland Ware, Lee Smith, Leo Heinert, and German Nieves.
 
HHF once again subsidized entry fees for 21 local skaters to skate Boardr Am on Saturday. HHF Wildcard Division and Zumies Destroyer Award winner Jiro Platt will receive an all-expense paid trip to skate in the Empire Am in Montreal this summer.
 
The 13th annual Harold Hunter Day Skate Jam was held at LES skate park on Sunday afternoon. Winners of the Best Trick contests include:

G-Shock Wallride
1st Place - Brian O'Dwyer - Front Feeble
2nd Place - Greyson Beal - Kickflip Frontside Wallride
3rd Place - Brandon White - Blunt Nosegrab to Fakie

Adidas Cellar Door
1st Place - Greyson Beal - Kickflip Wallride 
2nd Place - Dylan Nieves - Frontside Wall Ride
3rd Place - Chirs Colbourn - Wallride shuvit 

Adidas Spine Ramp
1st Place - Chris Colbourn - Pop-shuvit nosegrind backside 180
2nd Place - Greyson Beal - Kickflilp Frontboard shuvit
3rd Place - Austin O'Brian - Kickflip Crook 
 
Zumiez Destroyer Award – Dylan Nieves
 
Keep scrolling to check out a bunch of photos from the weekend’s events.

​Photos by Muhammad Floyd and Bradley Afroilan

​Photos by Muhammad Floyd

​Photos by Chris McDonald

Photos by Cesar Chaplin

​Photos by Bradley Afroilan

​Photos by Los Estrada

​Photos by Gunars Elmuts

​Photos by Blair Alley

​Photos by Los Estrada