WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Children eagerly lined up inside Naakai Hall at the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds during “Ashkii Happy Kids Day,” each waiting for their turn to receive free skateboards and helmets.
This event marked the beginning of a significant collaboration involving Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, 4Kinship, Wells Fargo, the Monarch Project, and the Diné Skate Garden Project. Together, they aimed to distribute free skateboards and helmets to promote health and resilience among Navajo youth.
On September 3, Wells Fargo announced its partnership with 4Kinship, a clothing brand known for its support of the Navajo community and its promotion of skateboarding. The partnership began with a grant that facilitated the purchase of 5,000 skateboards and helmets.
Amy Denetdeal, owner of 4Kinship, collaborated with President Nygren to distribute these skateboards across three different fairs.
The first distribution took place during the 76th Annual Navajo Nation Fair, which featured a special “Kids Day” event.
President Nygren, Denetdeal, and representatives from Wells Fargo were on hand to distribute 2,000 skateboards to children from various schools.
Many kids hugged President Nygren, expressing their gratitude for their new skateboards and helmets.
“This collaboration was meant to happen,” President Nygren remarked. “Seeing the huge smiles on these kids’ faces as they received their skateboards is priceless. This day is for them, and yes, we got a great deal on these skateboards, but the real achievement was getting them into the hands of our children.”
