BIOGRAPHY

In 2002, Tony established the Tony Hawk Foundation, which is dedicated to helping low-income communities construct free, high-quality public skateparks. The Tony Hawk Foundation supports disadvantaged communities and at-risk children through the construction of skateparks because these facilities provide a safe and inspiring avenue for skaters to practice and excel at their sport, and the process of developing a local skatepark encourages and teaches young people about how to make positive changes within their own communities. Since its inception, the Tony Hawk Foundation has awarded over $1.5-million to more than 300 communities across the U.S.

In 1980, by the age of twelve, Tony was sponsored by Dogtown skateboards, by fourteen he was pro, and by age sixteen Tony Hawk was the best skateboarder in the world. Tony has entered an estimated 103 pro contests, won 73 of them, and placed second in 19. No other skateboarder has won even one-third as many pro contests. Tony has become the single most recognized person in the world of interactive entertainment through the success of his video game franchise and his live multi-million-dollar action-sports tour. Tony's success overflows into the non-electronic world as well. His autobiography, HAWK -- Occupation: skateboarder was a New York Times bestseller and is currently available in paperback. He also created Tony Hawk's Gigantic Skatepark Tour for ESPN, which is second only to the X Games in viewership.