Tony Hawk skates Z-Trip's DJ table with a frontside ollie to pivot during the Vert Demo at Tony Hawk's Stand Up For Skateparks in Beverly Hills, CA on 10/11/15. Photo by Anthony Acosta.
OCTOBER 12, 2015 (LOS ANGELES, CA) – Tony Hawk, supporters of the Tony Hawk Foundation, celebrities, and an impressive roster of world-class skateboarding and BMX heavyweights came together this past Sunday at Green Acres Estate in Beverly Hills for the annual Stand Up For Skateparks benefit. Now in its 12th year, the event offered attendees a fun kid-centric day that culminated with performances by The Vandals and DJ Z-Trip and an amazing vert demo on Hawk’s personal 13-foot halfpipe.
Tony Hawk’s Stand Up For Skateparks benefit is a family-friendly action-sports carnival that included games, food, and live and silent auctions with unique items and experiences. The more than $875,000 raised this year will support the Tony Hawk Foundation’s mission to empower youth through the creation of free, quality, public skateparks in low-income communities throughout the U.S., and Internationally with programs that enrich the lives of youth through skateboarding. Since launching in 2004, Stand Up for Skateparks has raised more than $9.3-million for the Tony Hawk Foundation.
“Stand Up For Skateparks is a one-of-a-kind experience and I am proud to see it grow each year in support of our important cause,” said Tony Hawk. “Thanks to all of the attendees, donors, sponsors, performers and volunteers, the foundation will be able to further its powerful mission and continue to serve the more than 5-million visitors to these skateparks annually.”
Notable attendees this year included Anthony Kiedis, Etty and Perry Farrell, David Spade, Johnny Knoxville, Chuck Liddell, Urijah Faber, Max Greenfield, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Fred Durst, Sarah Chalke, Ethan Suplee, Verne Troyer, Bob Forrest, Joe Mangiello, Mark Wahlberg, and Corbin Harris.
Skateboarding and BMX athletes that participated in the vert demo include: Tony Hawk, Elliot Sloan, Lizzie Armanto, Allysha Bergado, Evan Doherty, Paul-Luc Ronchetti, Andy Macdonald, Simon Tabron, Coco Zurita, Kevin Staab, and Mat Hoffman.
This year’s event was co-chaired by Tony Hawk and Eve and Maximillion Cooper. Benefit Committee members include Ron Burkle, Fred Durst, Jon Favreau, Etty and Perry Farrell, Stacey and Allen Gibson, Brian Austin Green, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, Mat Hoffman, Bobby Kotick, Tommy Lee, Howie Mandel, Rodney Mullen, Tony Norman, Lyn-Z and Travis Pastrana, Chris Sacca, Sultan AlSaud, Henry Stupp, Robert Trujillo, Lars Ulrich, Steve Van Doren, Lori and Bill Walton, and DJ Z-Trip.
Led by auctioneer Jeff Stokes, a special live auction gave attendees the chance to bid on amazing experiences and items, including a 2016 MINI Countryman Park Lane Edition, customized by DUB Magazine, Roadwire Interiors and Rockledge Securities and featuring a one-of-a-kind leather interior.
This year’s event was made possible through the generosity and support of, Fandango, Gumball 3000 Foundation, MINI USA, Hawk Clothing, Starkey Hearing Foundation, GOSOLAR.COM, HEXBUG, Nixon, Sweetwater, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5, and The Yucaipa Companies.
Tony Hawk Foundation
A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk. THF promotes and provides advocacy training and funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States that promote healthy, active lifestyles, and to International programs that enrich the lives of youth through skateboarding.
Domestically, the Foundation’s Skatepark Grant program has awarded over $5.8-million to 596 communities in all 50 States. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks.
The Foundation’s International Program has provided technical support and awarded $150,000 to assist youth through the Skateistan educational programs in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa www.skateistan.org.
The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. For more information, visit the Foundation’s Web site at donation page. You can also visit THF on facebook and Instagram @tonyhawkfoundation, and on Twitter @THF.
Special thanks to following THF partners for their ongoing support: Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation (www.rcwjrf.org), Yucaipa Companies, Gumball 3000 (www.gumball3000.com), Adobe (www.adobe.com), Dynacraft (www.dynacraftwheels.com), Skate One (www.skateone.com), Birdhouse Skateboards (www.birdhouseskateboards.com), Alex Le’Vasseur Memorial Fund (www.rememberalex.com), Roxiticus Foundation
