Stand Up For Skateparks

Las Vegas - Tony Hawk: RIDE Presents Stand Up For Skateparks - 11/7/09

Las Vegas Debut Of Tony Hawk Foundation Benefit A Success

Tony Hawk: RIDE Presents Stand Up For Skateparks achieves goal to assist east Las Vegas skatepark.

11/7/09 (Las Vegas, NV) — Skaters in east Las Vegas will see an improved public skatepark in their neighborhood, thanks to the success of the inaugural Tony Hawk: RIDE Presents Stand Up For Skateparks benefit at the Wynn Las Vegas. One year in the making, the Las Vegas debut of the foundation's signature benefit event surpassed expectations by raising over $630,000 to help the Tony Hawk Foundation pursue its mission to bring free, quality public skateparks to low-income areas across the country.

Held at the Wynn Las Vegas, Tony's personal ramp was set on top of one of the resort's swimming pools, and a family-centric action-sports carnival filled the surrounding area with games, food, activities, a special musical performance by Rancid, the chance to test the new Tony Hawk: RIDE video game, and a Vert Demo with Tony and skaters Andy Macdonald, Bucky Lasek, Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins, and Kevin Staab, plus BMX pros Jamie Bestwick, Simon Tabron, and Dennis McCoy.

Several of Tony's celebrity friends also attended, including Andre Agassi, Erik Estrada, BMX legend Mat Hoffman, T.J. Lavin, Holly Madison, Sal Masekela, Aubrey O'Day, UFC fighters Chuck Liddell, Frank Mir and Gray Maynard, UFC President Dana White, and others.

During a special Pledge Drive, Tony Hawk and event Guests donated over $78,000 to make improvements to Freedom Skatepark in east Las Vegas, a neighborhood challenged by high crime and poverty. Working with local skaters, plus professional skatepark designer SITE Design Group and builder California Skateparks, the Tony Hawk Foundation will use the funds to add a street plaza to the existing but modest Freedom Skatepark.

The event program also included an awards presentation, recognizing two individuals whose dedication and generosity have helped further the foundation's mission to bring free, quality public skateparks to youth in low-income areas. Ron Burkle has hosted the Stand Up For Skateparks event at his home in Beverly Hills, California for the past five years, and is responsible for helping establish the foundation's primary fundraising event. Continuing his commitment to supporting underserved communities, he pledged $25,000 to launch the Freedom Skatepark redevelopment effort. Also recognized was Peter Whitley, a co-founder of the all-volunteer Skaters For Public Skateparks advocacy group and author of the Public Skatepark Development Guide, a book co-published by the Tony Hawk Foundation that's become the primary tool used by skatepark groups and city officials across the country.

In addition to the presentation, entertainment, and activities, live and silent auctions allowed Guests to bid on several exclusive auction items and experiences, including a DUB Edition Customized Tony Hawk 2010 Dodge Challenger RT, a bicycle signed by seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, the opportunity to be a character in the next Activision Tony Hawk video game or roadie for a day with Miley Cyrus, plus luxury vacation packages, signed memorabilia, and other unique items.

Those who weren't able to attend Tony Hawk: RIDE Presents Stand Up For Skateparks but who would like to support the expansion of Freedom Skatepark in east Las Vegas can text the word RIDE to 90999 to make a $5 donation to the Tony Hawk Foundation*. Through Friday, November 20, 2009 all text donations will be dedicated to the rebuilding of Freedom Skatepark in east Las Vegas.

Tony Hawk RIDE Presents Stand Up For Skateparks was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Activision, Wynn Las Vegas, UFC, Ex Drinks, Dynacraft, Towbin Dodge, ESPN, Quiksilver, Wasserman, Six Flags, Kohl's, Tech Deck, Birdhouse, Nixon, DM Steele Printing, JetBlue, and DUB.

* When prompted please reply with YES to confirm your gift. Full terms at mGive.com/A

In The Media

View some of the Media coverage of Tony Hawk: RIDE Presents Stand Up For Skateparks.

Event Gallery

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Past Celebrity Attendees

Pam Anderson, Lance Armstrong, Travis Barker, Steve Berra, Chris "Big Black" Boykin, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jamie Lee Curtis, Benicio Del Toro, Fred Durst, Jakob Dylan, Rashad Evans, Jon Favreau, Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), John Fogerty, Patrick Fugit, Kenny G, Leeza Gibbons, Todd Glass, Tom Green, Arsenio Hall, Ed Helms, Kathy Ireland, Anthony Kiedis, Lisa Kudrow, Stefan Lessard, Chuck Lidell, Cindy Margolis, Sal Masekela, Marlee Matlin, B.J. Novak, Holly Robinson Peete, Rodney Peete, Michael Rapaport, Trent Reznor, Paul Rodriguez Sr., Russell Simmons, David Spade, Shaun White.

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Past Athlete Attendees

Tony Hawk, Kenny Anderson, Joey Brezinski, Bob Burnquist, Jason Ellis, Jesse Fritsch, Pierre Luc Gagon, Mat Hoffman, Christian Hosoi, Bucky Lasek, Andy Macdonald, Danny Montoya, Rodney Mullen, Jean Postec, Kevin Robinson, Paul Rodriguez Jr., Ryan Sheckler, Kevin Staab, Brian Sumner, Lincoln Ueda, Mike Vallely, Danny Way, Shaun White.

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Past Musical Acts

blink-182, Pennywise, Lupe Fiasco, Anarchy Orchestra with guest appearances by Perry Farrell and Colin Haye, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes.

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Past Auction Items

A sample of one-of-a-kind items and experiences have been at auction in past events:

• 2008 Hawkized Jeep Wrangler - DUB Edition
• 2009 Hawkized Jeep Commander - DUB Edition
• Yamaha TTR 50 (includes Yamaha gear from Fox Racing)
• Punta Mita, Mexico Vacation
• Signed Flea Bass Guitar
• Signed Kevin Robinson BMX bike
• Tony Hawk Signature HuckJam Series bikes
• Tony Hawk LTD collection of watches from Nixon
• "The Office" TV show set visit
• "My Name is Earl" TV show set visit
• Apple Computer package includes MacBook Pro and iPod
• X-Games VIP package
• Signed framed Shaun White skateboard