About Us
Shred Love is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that teaches inner city youth life lessons and values through snowboarding. Based in Bayonne, New Jersey, we currently serve youth from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Shred Love provides everything necessary to give the participants a full learn-to-ride experience: lift tickets, gear, lessons, equipment, transportation, a continental breakfast, and lunch. Our program provides a unique opportunity to expose inner city youth to winter sports while developing their problem solving skills.
To learn more about the impact our snowboarding program has on youth, check out Up 2 Us’ Skiing and Snowboarding Fact Sheet
- Our goals are as follows:
- Expose inner city youth to winter sports, starting with snowboarding.
- Teach youth the value in setting goals and developing creative solutions to achieve those goals.
- Teach each participant good sportsmanship.
- Teach the participants the power of teamwork and how to effectively work together as a team.
- Use snowboarding as a tool to overcome fear and build the student’s trust in themselves, as well as others.
- Demonstrate the value of community service and how it benefits all.
Shred Love will show its students how these same basic skills can be applied to solve challenges in everyday life.
With continued support, volunteers, participation, and donations, Shred Love hopes to one day expand its program to include other winter sports, such as skiing, ice skating, snow tubing, and snow shoeing.
Board of Directors
Elizabeth Royster
Founder and Executive Director
Elizabeth Royster
Shred Love was founded in 2009 by Elizabeth Royster. Elizabeth was exposed to skiing as a part of her 8th grade field trip back in 1991. It was the first time she had ever seen or heard of a snowboard. Although she wouldn’t be back on the mountain until 2008, the desire to ride never waned. She quickly found ways to convince friends and family to join her and share her love of winter activities.
Elizabeth earned a M.B.A. in Information Technology Management, B.S. in Business Management and currently holds a Series 7 license. With complete dedication, Elizabeth balances a full-time career as a Senior Quality Assurance Test Analyst at a financial firm, a family of three kids, and Shred Love. It is through Shred Love, she hopes to empower and encourage others to take part and ownership in the development of today’s youth.
Mel Young
Vice President
Mel is currently a Vice President and Project Manager at a major financial firm in Jersey City, NJ. With over 10 years of project planning experience, Mel brings a wealth of expertise to planning our events, designing our awards, and getting the most kids on the chairlift.
Geneva Brooks
Vice President
A firm believer in, “when you know better, you do better”, Geneva signed on to Shred Love to help expose more inner city youth to, “experiences that are considered outside of their reach”. Geneva has over 27 years of banking, lending her experience and time to Shred Love.
Steven R. Coleman, MD
Vice President
A board certified pediatrician, Dr. Coleman has a great interest in community outreach, specifically bridging the gap between underserved communities and pediatric critical care. Steven joined Shred Love because he has a strong belief in early education, exposure to different roads of success, and community service. He firmly believes Shred Love will serve as an excellent opportunity to promote healthy living through active lifestyles in today’s inner city youth.