From Action Sports Day, Transworld Skateboard Magazine
By Kailee Bradstreet
Ceremony Celebrates Donation of Tile Wall in Hospital’s Teen Room
PRESS RELEASE -Orange County, CA (November 19, 2014) – Art of Board, a lifestyle and design brand known for its hard surface tiles made from recycled skateboard decks, joined with the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children’s) to unveil a new tile wall installation in the hospital’s teen room.
Art of Board donated 70 square feet of its recycled skateboard tile, which equates to about 100 skateboard decks the company collects through its international skateboard recycling movement, I Ride I Recycle.
The Nov. 18 action sports-themed event included appearances from professional skateboarder Mimi Knoop, who is also Art of Board’s Creative Director, Element Skateboards’ Elemental Awareness team, and Transworld Skateboarding editor in chief, Jaime Owens. CHOC patients participated in activities such as Art of Board’s interactive recycled keychain making, which teaches kids the importance of recycling; a skateboard design activity and skate demo by Elemental Awareness riders; and giveaways by hoopla skateboards and iconic sock brand, Stance, which donated several hundred pairs of socks for the young patients.
“Skateboarding is all about freedom and youth, and it was born here in Southern California, so it felt fitting that the young patients of CHOC should have a piece of that culture here,” said Bruce Boul cofounder of Art of Board.
“We’re thrilled to support CHOC not only because of their dedication to children, but also to the communities they serve,” said Rich Moorhead, Art of Board founder. “Art of Board and I Ride I Recycle are all about community and giving back, so it made perfect sense to give something to complement the teen room space.”
CHOC’s teen room provides a dedicated space for teenaged patients to gather, socialize and relax with their peers. Equipped with televisions, DVD players, and gaming and computer systems, the space has an adjacent kitchenette and access to an outdoor area. The teen room is located on the second floor of CHOC’s Bill Holmes Tower, a 425,000-square-foot, seven-story patient care tower that opened in spring 2013.
“Our teen room allows our patients to take a break from being sick. It provides a fun space to interact with new friends and forget about procedures, pain and stress,” said Stephanie DeMello, manager of CHOC’s Child Life department. “This fun and healing space is only enhanced by the colorful tile wall provided by Art of Board. It’s a welcomed addition to CHOC’s teen room.”
For more information on Art of Board, please visit www.artofboard.com.
For more information about CHOC, visit www.choc.org
About Art of Board:
Art of Board is a lifestyle and design brand that embodies the creative spirit, freedom and individuality of skateboarding. Art of Board-brand hard and soft goods pay homage to a used skateboard deck’s scratches, gouges and worn graphics – capturing the true soul of skateboarding. Creators of the first-ever skateboard recycling movement, I Ride I Recycle allows skateshops, parks, board manufacturers and individual riders to be part of the brand’s designs by recycling their skateboards instead of tossing them in the trash. The brand’s goal is to keep wood waste out of landfills, support skateshops and parks, and empower youth. By purchasing Art of Board products, customers become part of the movement and help the brand to support various action sports charities. For more information, visit artofboard.com.
About CHOC:
Named one of the best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report (2014-2015) and a 2013 Leapfrog Top Hospital for the highest quality of care, Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children’s) is exclusively committed to the health and well-being of children through clinical expertise, advocacy, outreach, education and research that brings advanced treatment to pediatric patients. Affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, CHOC’s regional health care network includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo, many primary and specialty care clinics, a pediatric residency program, and four clinical centers of excellence – the CHOC Children’s Heart, Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Hyundai Cancer Institutes.
