POSTED 2.21.10
FOX 2 NOW, ST. LOUIS, MO - Out of roller skates, donation jars, and a loyal customer base, big things grew in pine Lawn. Very big things. The Skate King at Natural Bridge and Kienlen set a goal: raise $10 thousand dollars for Haitian earthquake victims. They worried it was too ambitious of a goal. They were wrong.
"I'm happy to report tonight that not only did we meet that goal, we exceeded it by one thousand dollars," said Skate King President Mathew Foggy, Junior. "Our skaters raised $11 thousand to donate to the American Red Cross." And it came from small donations: dollars and cents dropped in jars. Every penny Skate King's customers gave, Skate King matched. "Here at Skate King we are like a family, and since we are like a family we band together so we can aid and assist," said customer Adam Love, "because we never know. That next time may be us that needs help."
Red Cross Executive Officer for Financial Development Arthur Hailand III came to Skate King Tuesday night for a check presentation. And he'd been there before.
"This place has a tradition of doing fundraisers," he said. After Katrina Skate King raised $5 thousand. And each year its customers donate thousands to the Coretta Scott King Foundation. Looking at the kids skating alongside adults, Hailand saw promise for the future. "They're going to pass this thing on generation to generation. It's something they believe in. Something they've been doing for years."
2010 marks 40 years in business for Skate King, 30 years at the Pine Lawn location. But this is perhaps the hardest year, financially, his customers have ever faced. "It really touches your heart when you realize our community and our nation are going through tough times, to have people dig down deep and give even when times are rough, that really warms your heart."
"I had a great deal of confidence our skaters could be compassionate," said Foggy. "I just didn't relaize how compassionate they'd be."
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