Challenge Grants Available to Build Community Skateparks *

The American Eagle Outfitters Foundation, a "giving program" of the American Eagle Outfitters retailer, in association with ESKAL8, a national skatepark program by KaBOOM!, are offering a new "national challenge grant program" for organizations that want to build skateboard parks in their communities.

The ESKAL8-AE Foundation Skatepark Challenge Grants program will reportedly offer four $8,000 grants to community organizations across the United States * that are already planning their own skatepark project. In addition to the grant towards the skatepark's construction, each recipient will also receive an additional $1,475 to purchase skateboards, helmets, safety gear, and permanent safety signage for the site.

The program is designed for "communities that wish to build skate parks utilizing the community build model" -- by which it is intended that all projects -- whether for wood, plastic, concrete, indoor or outdoor skateparks -- must engage the community in the planning, organizing, and construction of the park.

To recieve the grant, each potential recipient must be able to demonstrate the economic need of the community, (and somewhat paradoxically, but understandably) the ability of the community to meet fundraising requirements necessary for successful project completion. Recipients must also show the ability to secure the commitment of the community to the project, demonstrate a concrete plan for maintaining the skatepark once built, and register the project in the ESKAL8 online planner.

The deadline for applications is January 15, 2004 *.

Further information is available at the KABOOM! Web site. RFP Link: http://www.kaboom.org/nooz.aspx?id=412

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