Our mission: To build a free, public, concrete skatepark as a permanent resource for residents in the Ann Arbor area. The skatepark will be designed and built by an experienced skatepark contractor, and include local skaters in the design process.
However, our goal remains. From the beginning, part of our agreement with the City of Ann Arbor has been that not only will be provide funding for design and construction of the skatepark, but to also create an endowment to help pay for maintenance and future improvements to the skatepark.
10% of each gift/donation to the Ann Arbor Skatepark Fund goes into the Ann Arbor Skatepark Endowment. However, the $700,000 we’ve raised through grants can only be used for design and construction of the skatepark, not for the endowment.
IF WE ARE TO BUILD THE ANN ARBOR SKATEPARK, WE NEED TO RAISE AT LEAST $100,000 FOR THE ENDOWMENT!
After the endowment is funded, that leaves about $100,000 more to reach our total fundraising goal of $1,000,000.
We’ve busted our humps to get this far. We’re not quitting now!
Thousands of people in Washtenaw County have helped us get to this point. We are VERY grateful. But, WE STILL NEED YOU! We need you to keep buying stickers, shirts, decks, and keychains. We need you to buy a brick… or two. We need you to encourage others to give. We need you to help us make sure that the skatepark gets built.
Right Now: Go to http://a2skatepark.org/donate
There you can buy a brick, or simply give a donation online. It’s all tax deductible, and it feels real good ;-)
Tomorrow: Go downtown and get a shirt, deck, mug, and/or keychain from Vault of Midnight, Acme Mercantile, or Launch Board shop.
Before January 1: Send a letter to the mayor of Ann Arbor telling him why a skatepark is important to you and yours. Here’s his email address: JHieftje@a2gov.org If you’d like to email the other council members as well, here’s a page with their addresses: http://www.a2gov.org/government/citycouncil/Pages/Home.aspx
During 2012: Attend city council and Park Advisory Commission meetings. Speak up on how important the skatepark is to you. Tell everyone you know that this is important. We need everyone focused on what will prove to be the last leg of this jouney!
With your help, we’ll get this thing built. It’s going to be awesome, and you’ll be able take pride knowing that you helped make our community a better place.
Thank you!
Trevor Staples
President
Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark
Main Street Area Association businesses have partnered with 12 local non profits to help support local charities and to encourage shopping local this holiday season.
On Wednesday, December 21, a portion of sales from Main Street Area Association members will go to help build the Ann Arbor Skatepark! Please support the cause by shopping on Main Street on the 21st!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark is pleased to announce the award of a grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund of $300,000.
This amount, combined with over $100,000 in donations raised from private contributors, qualifies the effort for matching funds of $400,000 promised from the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission for the construction of a permanent skate park amenity at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
The effort faced a January 1, 2012 deadline for both the County matching funds and the donation of the land for the facility by the City of Ann Arbor. Having met the requirements for both commitments the project is now assured of being constructed.
According to Project Liaison Scott Rosencrans: “We are truly grateful to our donors and government partners for making this project a reality. This is a great day for the residents of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County who will receive a first class recreational amenity thanks to a community-wide collaboration that has touched all levels of participation. The effort demonstrates that we can do great things when we all work together.”
Own a piece of skateboarding history... FOR A BUCK! From December 1st to December 21st we're raffling off the "stacked double inverts" issue of The Skateboard Mag signed by Tony Hawk and Andy MacDonald. Every dollar raised goes to the Ann Arbor Skatepark Fund at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.
Submitted by Some Skater on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 20:28
Skate Park Effort Raises $18,000 at Evening of Events at Sava
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 16, 2011: The Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark received $18,000 in donations during a fundraiser that included a full evening of events held at Sava's Restaurant Saturday night. The evening included an invitation-only cocktail reception and formal dinner along with an “after-glow” dance party that was open to the public.
According to Project Liaison Scott Rosencrans: “A group of people who understand that teens need a way to be active, safe, creative and expressive pulled out their checkbooks and collectively brought that possibility closer to being a reality.”
The evening featured keynote speakers and Ann Arbor Natives, Neda Ulaby, Arts, Cultural, and Entertainment Reporter at National Public Radio, and WEMU On-Air Personality Michael Jewett. Ms. Ulaby took time out from her busy career to fly home for the purpose of supporting this project. Mr. Jewett also had to squeeze the event in to his busy career during a time when his professional responsibilities are acute. Together they made the evening interesting, informative, and fun for the attendees.
Approximately forty donors attended the $150 dollar per plate event. The Master of ceremonies was skate park effort founding board member Trevor Staples who was joined in speaking duties by fellow Board Member, 13-year-old Sam Saalberg. Mr. Saalberg serves on the Board as a representative of the “Street Team” a youth volunteer corps supporting the Skate Park Effort.
Earlier in the day the Street Team sold cider and donuts in front of Acme Mercantile on Liberty Street for two hours in the cold wind and raised an additional $150 for the project.
The group was able to raise additional funds at the Sava's event through skate park merchandise sales, supplemental donations, and a spontaneous auction for Mr. Staples’ one-of-a-kind A2 Skate Park necktie. After a spirited bidding process the tie went for $135 to ardent supporters Linh and Dug Song who recently wrote a check for $25,000 for the project. Mrs. Song commented that it was the best opportunity to get her famous entrepreneur husband to wear a tie at the formal events he attends as a part of his business duties. It was Mr. Song and Mr. Staples who originally developed this effort as a pubic project.
Special recognition for the success of the event goes to Sava Lelcaj, proprietor of Sava’s Restaurant. A long time supporter of the project, Sava has made significant personal cash contributions to the effort. At this event she donated the use of her successful business establishment, provided a gourmet three-course meal and wine at cost, and added a substantial percentage of all bar proceeds from the evening as an additional contribution. While she served this group, she met the needs of the general public who came to her door and an afterglow party from a Hill Auditorium performance.
According to Rosencrans: “We appreciate Sava’s leadership in demonstrating how local businesses can support a public community improvement project. She has been creative, proactive, and a true pleasure to work with. We are continually amazed at her ability to do it all for the community while providing a fabulous dining experience for her customers and running a successful business. It helps that she has an incredible support staff that is both efficient and responsive. They are all a pleasure to spend time with. We can’t thank them enough.”
The amount raised at this event marks a significant milestone where the organization is financially able to release a Request For Proposals, in coordination with their partners at the City of Ann Arbor, for the design and construction supervision of a permanent skate park amenity at Veteran’s Memorial Park. An RFP committee comprised of FOTAAS members, Washtenaw County Park Commission personnel, Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission members, and Ann Arbor Parks Staff will now be constituted for that purpose. Details will follow as those events proceed.
Celebrate the fall season and support the A2skatepark effort! The Street Team will be selling doughnuts, hot cider, and all the Ann Arbor Skatepark merchandise you can stomach on October 15, at Acme Mercantile (111 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor) from noon to 2:00pm. All proceeds benefit the Ann Arbor Skatepark Fund at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. For more information on the Street Team, including how to join, contact crystle at a2skatepark dot org
Note: This special fundraiser is limited to the first 100 people who RSVP.
Please join us for a dinner and cocktails with NPR Arts and Entertainment reporter (and Community High School Graduate!) Neda Ulaby, with WEMU personality (and 5th generation Ann Arborite!), Michael Jewett.
Saturday, October 15th
Sava's Restaurant: 216 S. State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
6:00PM- Exclusive private cocktail party with Neda and Michael
7:00PM- Magnificent 3-course meal prepared by chef Sava Lelcaj
10:30PM- Afterglow dance party
Cash Bar Available
We're selling bricks to raise funds to help with the construction of the skatepark. In exchange for a financial contribution, a brick paver will be engraved with the donor’s name and a brief message, and incorporated into the construction of the amenity.
On Friday, September 2, 2011, project liaison for The Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark, Scott Rosencrans, appeared on the Lucy Ann Lance Business Insider Radio Program. She asked all of the important questions that many of you have been pondering and Scott shared our answers. Click here to hear the interview (Scroll down). Thanks to Lucy Ann Lance, and thank you for your support!
For Immediate Release: August 26: The Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark is proud to announce a donation of $25,000 from Dug and Linh Song of Ann Arbor for the construction of a permanent skate park amenity at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Local entrepreneur Dug Song was one of the founding members of the organized effort behind the project. Though continually a project supporter, Mr. Song had to leave his official participation in 2009 to attend to his many business needs.
