Western New York Skateboarding Foundation

Narrative Description

The Western New York Skateboarding Foundation has been established to utilize the existing Xtreme Wheels Indoor Skate Park facility to provide skateboarding opportunities and equipment for underprivileged youths. Xtreme Wheels Indoor Skate Park is the only indoor skate park in the City of Buffalo and surrounding 100 mile radius. Open seven days a week, the facility is a 30,000 sq. ft. action sports complex offering ramps and rails for inline skating, skateboarding, BMX bikes, and scooters. The Foundation enables qualified underprivileged youths to partake in supervised skateboarding activities using Foundation purchased equipment which includes unlimited session time and instruction time. Xtreme Wheels Indoor Skate Park Foundation participants are able to attend Xtreme Wheels Indoor Skate Park during regular business hours and are able to work with skate park staff members as needed at no additional cost to the Foundation. The facility is open 7 days a week and is located at 356 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14207. Contact info: 716-871-9361, info@xtreme-wheels.com.

Exempt purposes are furthered with the purchase of skateboards, elbow pads, knee pads, and helmets totaling approximately $200 per individual. Qualified individuals with Foundation issued equipment are required to store equipment in a secured area upon completion of the day's activities. Equipment is property of Western New York Skateboarding Foundation and are available for use to any other individual sponsored by the Foundation.

Activities are funded with a mix of public and private grants as well as individual and corporate contributions. Fundraising events may be planned in the future.

Non discriminatory disbursement of funds include an application process to determine program participant qualification. Criteria includes proving financial need with a government issued benefit card or a salary below the poverty level threshold (2006 Census Bureau threshold is $15,000 for a family of three) and a brief questionnaire. Selected individuals are interviewed and are educated on the Foundation procedures. Those selected individuals are issued a gift card with a monetary value not to exceed $50, which will enable an individual to participate in park activities for 5 sessions of unlimited ride time. Additional gift cards may be issued to the same individual after the card has been redeemed depending available funding. Equipment needs are determined on an individual, as need basis.

Western New York Skateboarding Foundation Scholarship Fund does not discriminate
by age, race, color, national origin, disability, creed, or gender.