Shape Skate Foundation: Shape in motion event
A Night of Art, Skateboarding, and Purpose: SHAPE Skate Foundation Raises $6,500 for African Youth
Sometimes, the best things happening in skateboarding is when people come together, use their gifts, and invest in the next generation. That’s exactly what our friend Imoh, founder of SHAPE Skate Foundation, set out to do with the recent Shape In Motion Art Benefit and Silent Auction.
Held last weekend, the event brought together more than 140 guests for an evening celebrating art, fashion, skateboarding, and youth empowerment. By the end of the night, the community had raised an impressive $6,500 to support SHAPE’s Youth Empowerment program and its goal of sending young African skateboarders from four countries to Dakar for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Bringing the Community Together
One of the things we love about skateboarding is its ability to bring people from different backgrounds together around a shared passion. Shape In Motion was a great example of that, creating space for artists, designers, athletes, and supporters to contribute to something bigger than themselves.
The evening featured nine vendors showcasing and selling their own arts and crafts, alongside a silent auction featuring 25 donated items, nine of which were successfully sold. The event also marked the debut of SHAPE’s West African clothing line, created in collaboration with Nigerian designer Xtiantus Official, with a significant portion of the proceeds supporting the Dakar Mentorship initiative.
The night signified an opportunity to showcase the creativity within the community and demonstrate how art, fashion, and skateboarding can work together to create opportunities for young people.
A Bigger Vision for African Skateboarding
A highlight of the evening was hearing from special guests who understand the broader impact sport can have on young people and communities. The event featured keynote remarks from Rama Yade, former French Minister of Sports, and a special appearance by Zambian Olympic skateboarder, our friend, Mukuka Chambe.
Through conversations with Imoh and Mukuka, alongside Yade’s remarks on the role of sports in international diplomacy and economic growth, the evening highlighted how skateboarding can be part of a much bigger story.
For young skateboarders, opportunities to travel, compete, learn, and connect with others can make a lasting difference. Supporting African youth on their journey toward the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar is about giving these talented athletes brand new opportunities to catapult them in ways never done before, while investing in their development and helping create pathways for their futures and for the generations to come.
That is what makes SHAPE’s work worth paying attention to. By combining skateboarding with mentorship and community initiatives, the foundation is working to create opportunities that extend beyond the neighborhood skatepark.
Imoh - Founder of SHAPE (left), Mukuka Chambe (right)
Every Contribution Counts
An event like this takes a community of people willing to give their time, resources, and creativity. SHAPE Skate Foundation extended its gratitude to the sponsors who helped make the evening possible: Framebridge, Tunlaw Industries, The Skate Room, New Balance Numeric, and Chris Fortune.
From donated artwork and vendor sales to the fashion show and generous contributions, the $6,500 raised reflects what can happen when people rally around a shared purpose.
One of the things worth celebrating in skateboarding is the way professional skaters, like Imoh, use their influence to give back to the communities that helped shape them. The journey doesn't have to stop at turning pro, winning contests, or building a career. For many, it also means finding ways to open doors for the next generation, create opportunities for young skaters, and use their platform for good.
As the road to Dakar continues, we’re looking forward to seeing what comes next for SHAPE Skate Foundation and the young skateboarders who will benefit from its work.
Want to learn more or support the mission? Follow SHAPE Skate Foundation to learn more about its youth empowerment initiatives and the journey toward Dakar 2026.
Sometimes, a night of art, creativity, and skateboarding can help open doors for an entire generation. Shape In Motion is a reminder of what can happen when a community comes together with that kind of vision.
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