It’s a known fact that after school activities keep kids out of trouble, sustain learning, and provide a safe environment for students. After school programs give students entertainment provide hope for kids, especially those in underserved areas where resources may be strained. The typical list of after school programs include sports, chess, drama club ect. But what if an after school program could teach dedication, perseverance,and creativity; all while keeping students active? This is exactly what Skate After School is doing, and it is changing the after school experience for many kids, while helping them discover a new passion.
Skate After School matches talented and enthusiastic volunteers with Phoenix area schools to provide skateboard instruction to under served youth. With donated skateboard equipment, SaS is able to engage students in a challenging and exciting extracurricular activity. Using the acronym G.R.I.P. that stands for Generosity, Respect, Innovation and Perseverance, the program leaders work to use skateboarding as a platform to teach valuable character building and life lessons through the program.
In 2014, Skate After School (SaS) raised over $13,000 with the help of a successful IndiGoGo Crowdfunding campaign which was sponsored in part by +swappow using +swappow’s credits as incentive for all donors and the +swappow mobile/web sharing and exchange marketplace. As you may know, +swappow is a newly launched marketplace where consumers, charities and the industry can swap, sell and share pre-owned action sports equipment for cash or credits.
Skateboarding is a passion. It can be described as a sport, an art, a pastime. But what it really is a a way to learn about life. You fall, you get up, you keep trying. You use obstacles in your environment and you navigate and manipulate them to your advantage. You learn how to be an accepting team player, while also being an individual whose success is only accountable to oneself. All of these lessons are valuable, and can be used throughout life and interactions with other people. The non-profit, Skate After School program offers kids a fun way to learn generosity, respect, innovation, and perseverance. In the past 3 years this program has been successful in igniting passion within these kids, and teaching them life lessons that extend far beyond the classroom all while having fun and staying active. To find out more follow this link: http://www.skateafterschool.org/
Congratulations and much respect and appreciation to:
Bobby Green
Tim Ward
and Ryan Lay, their growing army of volunteers and to the skateboarding community for making this great program possible.