It’s springtime, or so the calendar says, and that means projects that have been dormant over the long winter can once again begin to move forward.  So is the case with The Skate Ignatius Project, with a small caveat. 
 
I recently received a request from the Montana Skate Park Association (MSA) to redistribute the $45,000.00 matching grant that we received from them last fall.  Although there is no deadline in which I was required to attain the matching funds, the MSA was unable to secure further grant money from that grant source because they were not able to release our money to us prior to the time their new grant request was reviewed.  I can not allow my circumstances to stand in the way of them securing funding for skate projects in Montana.
 
Along with their request came the promise to continue to work with us and to aid us in recouping grant funds in the future, up to the $45,000.00 range.  What they understand, and what I must share publicly now, is that I have been managing health issues that have exacerbated over the last couple of years making it impossible for me to function at the same “crazy, make things happen” level I have in the past.  While I have been able to keep the upper hand for many years, currently I am struggling to meet even the pared down demands of my life.  It is very humbling and quite frustrating to have to share this publicly, but this is a very public project and I trust that people will understand.   The good news is that it’s nothing fatal, and I am managing to retain most of my good humor!  The bad news is that full tilt Skate Ignatius Project Phase II fundraising has got to be put on hold.
 
The Skate Ignatius Project is held in high esteem in the skate world and I look forward to the time when I can crank up the fundraising machine to a higher level.  In the meantime, I beg your pardon and your patience as I take a break to get my health back on track. 
 
I have agreed to allow MSA to redirect the grant funds, heartened by their commitment to our projects completion, and for their concern for my health.  Please understand that this is a very generous offer on their part and I am so very thankful for their friendship and understanding.  MSA is a great group of people who will continue to provide support to our community.
 

In the meantime, I will begin writing grants with the assistance of the Lake County Community Development Corporation and keep my antennae up for any possible funding sources.  If anyone would like to assist in grant identification or with grant writing please contact me.  I will gratefully accept your assistance.  Also, if you wish to fundraise for the park please, feel free to do so.  The Skate Ignatius Project will gratefully accept your donations.      True to their word, the Missoula skate community will be helping us out with a skate competition fundraiser at the 52 Skatepark in Missoula.  Owners, Dylan Tucker and Jamie Erickson, have graciously offered to host this fundraiser for us at 6 p.m. on April 18, at their facility in Missoula.  The Skate Ignatius Project will be selling t-shirts and concessions and the 52 Skatepark will be running the skate competition with tons of great prizes and giveaways.  For more information you can call Dylan or Jamie at 542-6383 or Kristie Nerby at 745-4888.