what we do
Our mission: Board Rescue is a non-profit 501(c) (3) public benefit corporation dedicated to providing skateboards & safety equipment to children; targeting low-income children and at-risk youth.
We believe that every child should have the opportunity to skateboard regardless of their economic background. We are dedicated to getting skateboards and safety equipment to underprivileged and/or at-risk youth. You can help by visiting the How You Can Help page and make a donation to support our mission.
Thanks,
Gary Holl
President
Board Rescue
how you can help
Board Rescue relies on contributions from companies and individuals like yourself. You can donate equipment or make a monetary donation. We accept the following equipment donations:
Skateboard equipment:
- decks
- trucks
- wheels
- bearings/grip tape/hardware
Safety eqipment:
- helmets
- knee and elbow pads
Donate
To donate equipment please contact us at boardrescue@mac.com
To make a monetary donation please click the JustGive or AMEX Giving Express* links below--both are secure and easy ways to make a difference today.
*Please note: American Express will deduct a transaction fee of 2.25% from your donation to cover processing costs. The charities will receive your donation amount, minus the 2.25% American Express processing fee, from our partner JustGive. This transaction fee is similar to or less than the processing fee the charity would pay if you were to charge your donation with your American Express Card through any other means (i.e., over the phone to the charity, through the charity's website, etc.). You will not be charged any additional fees for using the American Express Donation Site and your dollar donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
FAQ
Do you accept used equipment? At this time we do not, please contact your local YMCA, or similar organization, to see if you can donate your equipment there. Or if you would like to help board Rescue you can sell it and make a monetary donation to Board Rescue. Monies received are used to purchase items which are then donated.
Do you accept t-shirts, hats or other clothing? E-mail us with a full description of the items. We may or may not be able to accept the items.
What areas are you operating in now? Currently we are operating in California with the hopes to expand to other States in the future.
Are your Board members paid a salary? No, there is no payment to any Board member, we are all volunteers.
I would like a free skateboard, will you send one to me? Board Rescue works directly with organizations, like the YMCA or other recognized organizations, to place equipment in to programs which are set up at these organizations and benefit at-risk and/or underprivileged children.
Our Organization has a skateboard program and serves a community which includes at-risk and underprivileged children, how do we find out more about board Rescue to see if we can align the two organizations? We currently do not have a formal application so please send us an e-mail and tell us about your organization, where it's located, who it serves, and if available the URL to your organization. The staff at Board Rescue meets regularly to review and select organizations to work with.
contact us
Meet the Board:
Gary Holl, 47
Skateboarding since 1975
President and Founder, Board Rescue
Senior Project Manager of Business Processes & Systems, Apple Inc.
Judi Oyama, 48
Skateboarding since 1973
Vice President, Board Rescue
Principle, Maximum Impact Design
Dr. Andrew Huberman, 32
Skateboarding since 1984
Treasurer & Secretary, Board Rescue
Post Doctoral Scholar, PhD, Stanford School of Medicine Neurobiology
Christian Opperman, 16
Skateboarding since 2003
Volunteer, Board Rescue
Honor Student, Woodside Priory
Questions? Email us at boardrescue@mac.com
news & events
June 9, 2008
New Non-Profit Organization Provides Skateboards to Children
Northern California skateboarders create Board Rescue organization to provide skateboard and safety equipment to kids in need.
Palo Alto, CA -- Skateboarding is growing faster than any other sport in the United States. Lifetime skateboarders Gary Holl, Judi Oyama and Andrew Huberman, understand the benefits of skateboarding and how it can help kids better their lives. To help encourage and educate kids to the importance of quality equipment the three have founded Board Rescue. Board Rescue's Mission is to provide free skateboards and safety equipment to children, targeting low-income and at-risk youth.
Board Rescue was founded on the belief that Skateboarding can teach many life long lessons. Like any sport, quality equipment, is the best way to experience the sport. The organization will reach out to industry manufacturers to collect high quality equipment for distribution to youth charity organizations that work with underprivileged and or at-risk youth.
"I?ve been skateboarding for 33 years," said Gary Holl, President and Founder of Board Rescue. "Skateboarding has taught me many things that I use in my day-to-day and professional life. It's taught me the importance of discipline, of being able to adapt to ones environment and how to interact well with different types of people--all factors that help lead to success."
Board Rescue has received initial donations from Santa Cruz Skateboards (NHS, Inc.) "Skateboarding is a lifestyle," said Bob Denike, president of NHS-Inc and life long skateboarder. "NHS and our family of companies are proud to sponsor Board Rescue's effort to get safe, solid equipment into the hands of deserving kids."
Among the organizations first donations was to the YMCA of San Francisco, which has been the recipient of skateboards from Board Rescue. "We are going to rely on organizations like the YMCA to provide the equipment to children that really need it," said Judi Oyama, VP of Board Rescue. "With the donation of skateboards we received from Board Rescue, we are able to provide kids who may not have had a chance to skateboard with the opportunity to experience many of the great things this sport has to offer," said Crissie Ponciano, Richmond District FLEX skate Program, YMCA of San Francisco.
In addition to donating skateboarding equipment, Board Rescue members reach out to local city and school organizations to encourage both skateboarding and skateboarding safety. "Of course, all sports have inherent risks," said Andrew Huberman, PhD and Secretary/Treasurer of Board Rescue. "Understanding how to skateboard and use safety equipment correctly improves kids' chances of having a fun and not getting injured. Bottom line is that every kid should get an equal chance to get involved in skateboarding. Board Rescue's goal is to make sure they get that chance."
Visit Board Rescue on the web at www.boardrescue.org
NHS Inc is on the web at www.nhs-inc.com
YMCA of San Francisco is on the web at www.ymcasf.org
June 9, 2008
The Skateboarders' Journal joins Board Rescue
The Skateboarder's Journal pledges to support Board Rescue by donating 5% of all advertising revenues generated by TSJ members clicking on the Google ads you see on their pages. TSJ will also donate 5% of sales of all banner ads to Board Rescue. "We are pleased to have the support of TSJ and applaud their efforts to help our mission of providing skateboards to kids in need", said Judi Oyama, VP of Board Rescue.
our supporters
