Mayor Kevin Faulconer and City Councilwoman Lorie Zapf honored professional skateboarder Tony Hawk for his local philanthropic contributions during a May 29 ceremony at Robb Field Skate Park in Ocean Beach.
The skate park happened, in part, because of Hawk’s financial donations.
“It’s super-overwhelming,”‘ Hawk said about the Tony Hawk Day city proclamation he received. “I never imagined something like that, especially in my hometown.”?
The native San Diegan’s foundation has raised more than $5.1 million to?help fund 544 skate parks like the one in Ocean Beach, which are used by 4.8 million skaters annually nationwide. Hawk has worked with the American Red Cross, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and other nonprofits.?
Hawk said he hoped the honor bestowed upon him would increase awareness of the need for public skate parks in low-income areas.
A skateboarder since age 14, Hawk, 46, has won numerous competitions and helped build the X-Games into a major event.
Having grown up near a skate park in Del Mar, Hawk said he wanted other children to have the same opportunity.