Impact

2023 Summary

Program Excellence

Picture this: detailed program descriptions, logic models, and evaluation criteria for each initiative. It's like giving our programs superhero capes, ensuring they're not just effective but also aligned with our mission to empower and uplift. 🚀

Skate Camp

In the world of nonprofit organizations, creating meaningful and diverse experiences is key to making a positive impact.

This year we are celebrating our newly created Skate Camp program, a one-week sleepaway camp where campers not only enjoyed traditional activities but also learned valuable skills like knot tying, fishing, swimming, boating, sleeping outdoors, and engaging in arts and crafts.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Camp Reimagined, this camp demonstrated the profound positive outcomes that can emerge from a holistic camp experience.

Partnering with Camp Nice, HHF sent twenty campers and eight staff to spend the week at this beautiful and rustic camp. Significantly, with assistance from Supreme, we build a skate park at the camp, to be used by our campers for years to come.

Watch a video recap of our week at Skate Camp!

Community Outreach

We made significant changes to our Legacy Program, now known as our Community Outreach Program, deepening and making more consistent our presence in NYC skateparks and in the skateboard community.

Outreach programming has taken place throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, with a special emphasis in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

Women & LGBTIA+ Initiative

We are planning changes to our Women & LGBTQIA+ initiative, which has been led by Coach Yuri with the goal of providing safe spaces and resources for Women, BIPOC, and queer identifying people. In 2024, we’ll be launching our Women & Girls Mentoring Program separately from the LGBTQIA+ Initiative, which will allow a greater focus on introducing skateboarding to girls of younger ages, and women young in heart.

Future Pathways

We are strengthening our Future Pathways Workforce Development Programs, including our Creative Careers Program, to include a key internship component to provide a variety of real-time work experiences.

Our Rider Development Program, which supports and promotes talented competitive skateboarders who are often most at-risk due to their singular focus on skateboarding at the expense of other developmental goals, will move under this category as well.

Watch a short video highlighting the last Creative Career panel of 2023!

Men's Mental Health

Our Men's Mental Health Program, which ran as a pilot in 2023, will run as a full program in 2024 to address the numerous issues and needs raised by participants.

Watch a short video recapping our Mental Health Panel with Zion Wright, held at Red Bull NYC!

Harold Hunter Weekend

Read about Harold Hunter Weekend XVI here.

Empowering Our Team

Behind every successful mission, there's a stellar team. With job descriptions and success criteria for each role, we're creating a powerhouse of excellence and growth among our dedicated team members. It's like watching a superhero team assemble! 💪

Staff

Mame Bonsu joined our team as our Director of Community Engagement; J. Joseph is now on board as our Administrator; and Kava Vasquez, finishing up her position as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, is now on the team full-time as our Director of Future Pathways.

Together with Creative Director, Ray Mendez; Social Media Manager, Brian Adamkiewicz; and our roster of Coaches Olu Stanley, Yuri Cooper, Carlos Pavon, Pink Chisala & Jeremiah Pardo, we have a full table for our staff meetings!

Board

We happily invited Mike Cohen, David Foucher, and Alex Corporan to join our esteemed board, bringing their own skills and networks to HHF.

Commitment to Transparency

Drumroll, please! HHF underwent its first independent financial audit, waving the banner of transparency and responsible financial wizardry. It's like getting a gold star for our commitment to being open, honest, and all-around awesome! 🌟

IMPACT