If you need to donate some money before the end of the year, consider giving it to one of these fine organizations supporting skateboarders by promoting skateparks and skateboarding. Follow the links below and click on their donate button. You can give the government everything you owe, or you can direct a portion of what you owe to your favorite skate advocacy organization and reap the tax benefits. You might also check if your employer has a gift matching program. Skaters for Portland Skateparks Tony Hawk Foundation Benton County Skateboarding Alliance Grind for Life Skatistan Skaters for Public Skateparks Marginal Way Skatepark Above Coping Board Rescue The Ian Tilmann Foundation Descriptions after the turn.

The Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark are trying to raise money for a free public skatepark. One of the things they’ve organized is an entry into the Pepsi Refresh project, a very clever public relations scheme that still ultimately does do a lot of good for the public. Thing is, they don’t just give it away to anyone, they put it to a vote. What I want you to do is visit the project page and vote, it won’t cost you a nickel, and they’ve got a real chance to win. They’re ranked 16th right now. Andy MacDonald hailed from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and he graciously appeared in the projects YouTube video. Those other guys look familiar too… Check it out after the jump., but don’t forget to vote! I think you can vote once a day in December. (That being said, 30k to finalize a skatepark design? You guys need to find a good design/build firm to comp that design fee. Our readers can recommend a few…

It’s the third annual Skate Like a Girl Wheels of Fortune at the Skatebarn in Renton, WA. Skate Like A Girl’s 3rd annual Wheels of Fortune girls skate contest will be going off on Sunday December 19th at Skatebarn (2900 Lind Ave SW, Renton, WA) just outside of Seattle, so MARK YOUR CALENDERS! We would love to see a ton of ladies from Portland make it out for this fun-filled day with a beginner, intermediate, and pro level ladies only competition/jam. TONS of prizes (and a cash purse for the Pro category), and lots of new skate friends to meet. This event brings out gals from all over the country including some of our Canadian neighbors up north and some X Games names like Amy Caron, Vanessa Torres and Tamara Drybrough. It’s an event NOT TO BE MISSED! More info to come on the event as the date draws nearer. Flyer and videos from the previous two years after the jump.

Benefit for Above Coping December 3rd at Epic Skate in Portland. benefit and art exhibit…. oh no. I need to make some “art” ASAP.

The Searc for the Miraculous is, believe it or not, a skate video. I’ve seen some of his work (Strongest of the Strange) a long time ago, and what I remember about it was just stoke, so I’m not sure what to expect from this hour long skate video. It’s showing at the Clinton Street Theater in Portland on December 2nd as a fundraiser for Brooklyn Street Skate Spot. If you want to know more about it, you can check out the official web site or watch a video of Pontus talking about it.

Congratulation to friend of the site Stephanie Murdock, who was just was named a Baltimore Community Fellow, an award that comes with a hefty grant that she plans on using to help raise more money for Skatepark of Baltimore. This is an interesting twist on skatepark fundraising, based on her plans to develop a new skatepark as a place to positively influence at-risk youth through facilitating positive interactions and mentoring at a new skatepark-based community. At least that’s how I understand it, you can read more at the Baltimore Sun. BTW – The congratulations are for being a friend of the site, not for winning an award… [Photo: Jed Kirschbaum, Baltimore Sun]

Quite possibly, the last time I was skating in Indianapolis was when I took this picture. If I was there now, I would be headed to tonight’s concert and art show to benefit the Indianapolis Skatepark Advocates. HOW? Come to Earth House on November 5, 2010. WHAT? 5 Awesome bands, some really cool artists, and lots of support to make our future skatepark happen. COST: $5–every cent goes to Indy Skatepark Advocates WHERE? 237 N East St Downtown Indy WHO? Everyone you know (it’s all ages) WHEN? November 5 7pm-11pm

Grover says they’ll be working on adding a new capsule to Burnside on Tuesday. That’s a pretty major facelift. There’s few GVK shots after the jump.

Kevin Cann has been spearheading an effort to expand a small skatepark in a town called Notre Dame de L’ile Perrot, a small town outside of Montreal, Quebec. It started off as a DIY-esque park with the blessing and financial aid of the town, thanks in part to Kevin’s hard work and some open minds in city hall. I had forgotten to put this story up, actually, but I’m going to do this part first. The backstory will come later. Here’s the bottom line, the first stage of the park was a success (see picture here) and Kevin used that momentum and good will to add a proper bowl to the jersey barrier foundation the park already has. Pictures after the jump, thanks to Kevin.

Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament fully funded a small skatepark in his childhood home town of Big Sandy, Montana. His heart’s even bigger than his wallet. 40k is a lot to spend just to have a place to skate when you visit your p’s. Check out the Great Falls Tribune for the details, and then head on over to Earth Patrol Media to check out some photos of Jeff enjoying some Canadian maple mid-air. – Thanks to Ashley Mott for the tip.