Ep.19 / Fueling skateboarding culture as a force for good

In this episode I chat with Ben Bashein is CEO of The Skatepark Project, the nonprofit founded by legendary skater Tony Hawk, where he leads the mission to create safe, accessible, and inclusive public skateparks for youth in underserved communities across the U.S. and internationally. We talked about Ben’s journey from college to world of non-profits including Planned Parenthood and CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), Sean Penn's disaster relief organization. His journey is interesting as he has specialized in collaborating with talent and influencers to advance philanthropic goals, and is acutely aware of the role that culture can have in marketing and raising awareness and relevancy.This conversation included:- The importance of skateboarding for community and personal development- Leveraging culture to enhance nonprofit visibility and impact- The way to work with celebrity founders like Tony Hawk and Sean Penn- Using partnerships with brands to drive funding and awareness- Authenticity as key to successful nonprofit-brand collaborations- The role of storytelling vs. just marketing and fundraising- Investing in nonprofit infrastructure and the need for creative fund-raising strategies