Can’d Aid and Employees from Medtronics Boulder Campus Partner for Socially Distanced Employee Skateboard Build, Giving Back to Local Students & Kids in Foster Care

September 18, 2020

(Longmont, CO September 18th) — Can’d Aid, a Colorado-based nonprofit focused on people powered do-goodery, and employees from Medtronic’s Boulder campus, have partnered to thoughtfully host a skateboard build for local students and foster care children, while continuing safety measures and social distancing during COVID-19.

Skateboard builds will take place in small groups of 10 or less between September 19th and 26th.

“Each summer, employees from our Boulder campus participate in an on-site philanthropy event with nearly 2,200 employees. Although things look different this year, we are so excited to partner with Can’d Aid on a 1,500 skateboard build with our Operations teams,” says Elizabeth Bailey, Executive Assistant to Dr. Jeffrey Zaruby. “COVID19 and the safety of our employees continues to be at the forefront of our event. The Can’d Aid group has been fantastic in offering creative solutions at every stage of the event. Every detail has been considered and every option carefully planned. We are so excited to see this event come to life and to get building! Can’t wait for these finished boards and helmets to be in the hands of 4^th and 5^th graders in our neighboring schools district.”

To host such an elaborate skateboard building event for such a large company, employees from Medtronic’s Boulder campus first held five different skateboard building training sessions, via ZOOM, for their team members, the week before the in-person events. Can’d Aid also provided a “How to Build A Skateboard” tutorial YouTube video for Medtronic team members to reference.

Can’d Aid then staged the two building rooms at Medtronic’s Boulder campus with all the building materials over the weekend. To keep social distancing a priority, the skateboard building process will be executed in 10 stations, where volunteers will sanitize their station after their building process is complete. Temperatures of everyone present will be taken, gloves will be provided and masks will be required to participate.

In total, the partnership plans to build 1500 skateboards for the following organizations:

• Royal Family Kids
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Weld County
• Emerald Elementary
• Boulder Human Services/FosterSource
• Shiloh House
• University Hill Elementary
• Omar D. Blair Charter School
• Child, Adult, and Family Services City and County of Broomfield
• Alicia Sanchez Elementary School

“We’re so grateful for the time, diligence and resources that employees from Medtronic’s Boulder campus have put into the skateboard build” says Diana Ralston, Executive Director at Can’d Aid. “Receiving a gift that gets them moving and outside is a game-changing experience for some many of these kids, especially during these trying times.”

CONTACT:    

Diana Ralston, Can’d Aid Executive Director  |  diana@candaid.org  |  970-275-5156

Amanda Goad, PR  |  PR@candaid.org  |  970-403-4101

About Medtronic

Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world’s largest medical technology, services and solutions companies – alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 90,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in more than 150 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together.

About Can’d Aid

Can’d Aid spreads people powered do-goodery through Towns, Tunes, Treads & Trails and Love Yur Mama efforts nationwide. Core programs develop healthy and whole humans capable and inspired to nurture a healthy and whole planet. Since its inception in 2013, more than 1.7 million cans of water have been shipped post-disaster, over 4,600 bikes and skateboards have been built for underserved youth, 2,100 instruments have been donated and the equivalent of 72 million cans recycled. To donate, join the do-goodery or find out more, please visit candaid.org.

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