Tag Archives: snowboard

Get to Know Tyson!

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We at Shred Love would like to introduce you to our participant Tyson!

Name: Tyson Ellis Drayton

About Tyson: I’m 7  years old. I like to play video games on my Wii and DSI. I eat a lot, draw, ride my bike, and play with my hamster.

What made you join Shred Love? My mom said there was going to be snowboarding.

How has Shred Love changed your life? I met a lot of new people and learned how to do tricks.

Me and my friends - Chaz & Sterling

Firsts

First time I learned how to ride my bike, I was six.

First time I took a swimming lesson, I was 3 years old.

First time I went snowboarding, I was 5 years old.

First pet was my hermit crabs.

First time I played flag football, I scored 2 touch downs!

Check back next Tuesday to see who’s next! = )

Get to Know Mel

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Name:  Mel Demetrius Young, but known by a host of nicknames including Demetrius tha Poet & Young Smellz (thanks Jerrie).

 

About me:  I’m the proud father of a son (Marcel, 18) and daughter (Jackie, 13 going on 30).  I earn my living as a Vice President – Project Manager and Business Analyst. However anyone who knows me knows that my occupation is that of a Poet/ Spoken Word Artist (just gotta find a way to earn a living off it – lol). I was born in Trenton, NJ and was educated at a Girard College. I served in the US Air Force Reserves during the Gulf War.  My hobbies and interests include fishing, snowboarding, art (specifically graffiti) and writing.

Jackie, Marcel, & I tubing at Blue Mountain

 

What role do you play at Shred Love? As a VP and Board Member, I help vet out business, financial and program decisions. In addition, I chaperoned a group of participants on the mountain. Also, I usually have a hand in any graphic design work associated with the organization, including the design of the Logo.

 

Why did you become a part of Shred Love? When Liz conceived the idea of developing the organization and its mission, I was “all in”. I grew up in one of Trenton, NJ’s worst neighborhoods, Wilbur Section, and have personally benefited from organizations such as the YMCA, Big Brothers / Big Sisters, and Girard College. Without those organizations, I would not be where I am today.  I see Shred Love as being a vital organization to help develop our youth.  It also provides a way for me to give back, after all, so much was given to me.

Firsts

First time I strapped on a snowboard, I was 40 years old.

First trip into the half pipe did not go so well.  I fell about 10 times.

First time I made it down the mountain without falling; I was stoked for a week!!!

First snowboard was purchased on the way home from my very first snowboard outing (I was immediately hooked).

My First Time

Check back next Tuesday, to see who’s next!

Get to Know Us

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Have we met?

No? Well its time we do! Over the next couple of weeks, we will do a “Get to Know Us” feature on the people behind Shred Love. To get the ball rolling, I decided to start with myself, so here goes!

Name: Elizabeth Royster but everyone calls me Liz

About me: I’m the proud mommy of Shanelle, Savion & Tyson. By day, I’m a Senior Quality Assurance Test Analyst aka a software tester, however I’m Shred Love 24/7, ask anyone! = )  I grew up in a pink house in Jersey City with my family – Mom & Dad, my brother Omar, and sisters: Poodie & Jerrie. Wait there’s more, it was a big pink house and a lot of family lived with us, so there were my godbrothers: Lamar, Tykwan, Brandon, and Andre, their mothers Bonnie and Alycia, and all of our pets: dogs, cats, birds, fish, newts, hamsters, guinea pigs, snakes, a rooster… ok too many to remember, lol! As an adult, I only have a few pets: fish, a dog named Pebbles, and a turtle named Slim Thug. People find my laugh and sneeze pretty memorable, lol! I love music, art (I can draw and paint), traveling, knitting, swimming (still learning), reading, and of course snowboarding. 

My daughter Shanelle

My son Savion

My youngest son Tyson

 

What role do you play at Shred Love? I’m the Founder and Executive Director of Shred Love. I should probably list more titles because of all of the work and dedication it takes to make Shred Love a success but I will stop there, no need to make this a 5 page post, lol!

My birthday at Ten East!

Why did you become a part of Shred Love? I became a part of Shred Love because its easy to sit back and point out what’s wrong with the world but its a lot more rewarding to actually change the world.

My "little" sis, Monique & I (Little from Big Brother Big Sister organization)

My "little" sis Monique & I (Little from Big Brothers Big Sisters)

How has Shred Love changed your life? Shred Love has given me the opportunity to give back what so many have given me – a chance. I firmly believe I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help and guidance of so many others. At times, I think people put too little value on how a small act of kindness can impact a person’s life. As a teen mother, so many people thought I would fail, almost as if my fate had been sealed. If it wasn’t for the support of a few teachers, friends, and family members, I’m pretty sure life for me would be completely different. Therefore, I feel its only right, that I show others that despite how hard or bad things may seem right now, it can always be better. We are all living proof. One way or another we’ve all had to overcome some obstacles in life and for as long as we live, there will be more. By helping others through those times, we prepare ourselves for the same.

Shred Love has also forced me to set higher goals and become more creative in finding solutions to my problems and that of Shred Love. Our first year panned out to be better than I had ever expected, which to me meant I needed to dream bigger. With all of the success we’ve had so far, I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.

Shred Love

Firsts

First time I had ever seen a snowboard, I was 14 years old.

First time I went snowboarding, I was 30 years old and was sore for 3 days.

First trick I landed was a butter.

First day of Shred Love’s learn to ride program in 2010, was the First time I cried on a mountain. = )

Check back next Tuesday to see who’s next!

-Liz

An Epic Night for An Epic Cause

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Our dinner at Soul Flavors on Wednesday, October 20th was a success! The sold event raised money for our 2011 programs and operations, enabling us to serve more youth. The packed house was filled with participants (new and returning) and their parents, volunteers, mentors, teen mentors, and supporters of Shred Love. So let’s start with our raffle winners:

Netta & our first winner, Monica

 

Mrs. Fowlkes with her winnings!

The only guy to win, Rob (he's also one of our new mentors!)

Dr. Coleman won a gift card to Soul Flavors

And since all of our young attendees walked away with gift bags, I’ll waste no time in sharing more pictures from the evening.

Our volunteer Darlene and her son, Adam... yeah he's a rider!

Our future Betties: Natalie & Monique

Our guests

 

Assemblyman Charles Mainor & our Founder, Liz

To see all of the pictures from the evening, check out our Facebook page and if you aren’t already a friend, don’t forget to send a friend request. ; ) 

Special thanks goes out to all of our guests, SOS Outreach, The Hidden Valley Club, Windham Mountain, Soul Flavors, Snowboard Addiction, Assemblyman Charles Mainor, The Jersey Journal, Bayonne Community News, Youngsworld, LLC, and Darlene Sarr. 

'Til next time!

Join Shred Love for an Evening of Fine Dining at Soul Flavors

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Come join Shred Love for an evening of fine dining at Soul Flavors on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, at 7pm-9:30pm. Past participants and parents will be there to share their experiences with Shred Love and how much its impacted their lives. There will also be door prizes, a raffle, and Shred Love’s infamous ice breakers (just ask our volunteers, lol!), so come out and enjoy the evening with us!

Dinner will consist of appetiziers, an entree with two sides, dessert, and a beverage. Feel free to B.Y.O.B! Click here to view our selection: Shred Love Dinner

Tickets are $65, with a portion of the proceeds donated to us to benefit our 2010/2011 snowboarding program.  Tickets are on sale now, until 9/30.

To purchase your ticket, please contact Liz at 201-988-7764 or email donate@shredlove.org/wordpress.

See you there!

Impacting Youth through Snowboarding

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Up 2 Us recently published it Skiing and Snowboarding Fact Sheet. The fact sheet provides some statistical data on the impact skiing and snowboarding has on youth, further proving the value in skiing & snowboarding programs like Shred Love.

Check it out! Skiing and Snowboarding Factsheet

Got Snowboard Addiction?

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Snowboard Addiction  has teamed up with Shred Love to present to you a 10% discount on all of their products by simply using the discount code “shredlove”. When you use the “shredlove” discount code, Snowboard Addiction will donate 20% of all sales generated from the discount code to us. So that’s 10% off for you and a 20% donation for us!

Snowboard Addiction specializes in online coaching and freestyle coaching programs via DVD or download at affordable prices. The DVDs and downloadable programs are backed with a 120% money back guarantee. If you don’t learn anything that dramatically improves your riding, Snowboard Addiction will refund you an additional 20% more than your purchase price, however we at Shred Love are positive you will see the value in their products.

Shred Love plans to use their programs for the 2010/2011 winter session, because for our second year, it’s all about progression! All of the lessons/videos are available in regular and goofy. Not sure what regular and goofy means? Then start with Snowboard Addiction’s Learn to Ride program.

In the meantime, check out Snowboard Addiction’s free Spinning Lesson and see for yourself.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8320867&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

Advanced Spinning Part 1 (Regular) from SnowboardAddiction.com on Vimeo.

Shred Love’s Dough Raiser at Jersey City’s Uno’s

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Come out and join us for dinner at Uno’s on Thursday, May 13, 2010 as a part of our Dough Raiser event. Have dinner at Uno’s and we receive 20% of all sales generated from guests who support our cause.

Uno Chicago Grill, 286 Washington St., Plaza 4A, Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ, 07302.

Email donate@shredlove.org/wordpress for more information and/or to stay abreast of this and future fundraiser events.

License to Shop fundraiser

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Hello all,

Our Jersey Gardens’ License to Shop fundraiser is still under way. For $5, you can buy a coupon book filled with coupons to Aldo Shoes, United Colors of Benetton, Calvin Klein, Cold Stone Creamery and more! The coupons are good until 12/31/2010, so there’s no need to worry that your coupons will expire before you get a chance to use them.

All proceeds will be used to keep our 2010/2011 snowboard program free.

Shred Love at the US Open

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On Thursday, 3/18, Shred Love headed up to Stratton in Vermont for the US Open.  The 28th annual snowboarding event gave both amateurs and the world’s best riders the opportunity to compete. It also gave us the opportunity to meet up with other nonprofit snowboarding organizations.

We were very fortunate to have met Danny Hairston of Chill.

Founder Liz & Chill's Danny Hairston

Founder Liz & Chill's Danny Hairston

Board member Mel & Chill's Danny Hairston

We also met up with Brian Deka Paupaw of Hoods to Woods and Olympic winner and US Open Women’s Half Pipe winner, Kelly Clark.

Mel, Kelly Clark, & Liz

 And Olympic winner Hannah Teter before the Women’s Half Pipe competition.

Mel, Olympic winner Hannah Teter, & Liz

Seeing the Black & Night Jam and Half Pipe competition live was epic. You really get to appreciate those backside rodeos and double corks in person. I was also able to snap a pic of Kelly Clark’s victory run, its not best because I took the picture from my cell phone but it does manage to capture the moment.

Kelly Clark's victory run

I think its safe to say that wraps up the 2010 riding season for me. Until next winter, Shred Love!

~Liz

'Til next time!