Tony Hawk Foundation Supports First Concrete Skatepark in South Carolina
Organization Continues Growth with Addition of Jamie Thomas to Board of Directors
December 16, 2008 - Vista, CA

The Tony Hawk Foundation Board of Directors met in December to select the recipients of its Fall 2008 Skatepark Grants. Among the 27 communities to receive a grant is Columbia, South Carolina, whose proposed 16,000-square-foot Owens Field Skatepark project will be the first custom-concrete skatepark in South Carolina, and also the first skatepark project in the state to qualify for a Tony Hawk Foundation grant.

The Board also welcomed new member Jamie Thomas, whose long history as a pro skater and industry leader had an immediate and positive impact on the group, which also includes Tony Hawk, Lenore Hawk Dale, Pat Hawk, Steve Hawk, Kent Dahlgren, Sandy Dusablon, Bobby Kotick, Jared Levine, Mike Vallely, Erica Zohar, and Lior Zohar. Each Board Member brings a unique background to their work with the Foundation, and the addition of Jamie further diversifies the Foundation’s governing body.

Since its inception in 2002, the Tony Hawk Foundation has awarded 427 grants worth over $2.7-million to help construct free, public skateparks in 48 states. The latest recipients of Foundation grants include both urban and rural communities in 18 states.

Fall 2008 Tony Hawk Foundation Grant Recipients

$5,000
Mena, Arkansas
Greenville, Illinois
Pittsfield, Illinois
Greenbush, Minnesota
Perham, Minnesota
Ironton, Ohio
New Concord, Ohio
Maysville, Oklahoma
White River, South Dakota
North Bennington, Vermont
Saint Johnsbury, Vermont
Edgerton, Wisconsin
Viroqua, Wisconsin
Hinton, West Virginia
Guernsey, Wyoming

$25,000
Harrison, Arkansas
Bemidji, Minnesota
Columbia, South Carolina

$10,000
Imperial Beach, California
Ukiah, California
Owensboro, Kentucky
Sparta, North Carolina
Doniphan, Missouri
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rochester, New York
Walla Walla, Washington
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

The next deadline for completing Tony Hawk Foundation Skatepark Grant applications is March 2, 2009. Details are available on the Foundation’s Web site at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org