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A couple of kids listen attentively to the skateboarding lesson on Jan. 15, 2026. (Ismael M. Belkoura | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\nFourth and fifth graders at Webb Elementary School squirmed while sitting down in semi-straight lines in the gym.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve been called for an assembly, but they don\u2019t know what for.<\/p>\n
The surprise? Brand new skateboards for each student \u2014 including a free lesson from an expert.<\/p>\n
On Jan. 15, 100 skateboards were donated to the predominantly low-income elementary school by RxBenefits and Can\u2019d Aid, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing resources for underprivileged communities to promote healthy lifestyles. Alongside the skateboards, 100 bicycles were gifted to first, second and third graders, and the school music department received 30 ukuleles.<\/p>\n
A couple of kids listen attentively to the skateboarding lesson on Jan. 15, 2026. (Ismael M. Belkoura | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
Webb Elementary was the sixth school in the greater North Texas area that received the donation, said Abbi Arneson, marketing manager for the nonprofit. She said that giving kids access to tools that will help them stay active \u201chas the power to shift the mindset of a student.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGiving children access to outlets \u2014 whether that\u2019s active, healthy or creative outlets \u2014 it truly has the power to change the trajectory of a kid\u2019s life, whether that\u2019s through providing community or giving them a way to spend more time outside and get off of screens,\u201d Arneson said.<\/p>\n
Children from the ages of 8 to 18 spend over seven hours daily on technological devices, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. To combat this, the nonprofit has donated 14,438 bikes, 9,084 skateboards and 4,425 new instruments to kids in underserved communities nationwide since 2013.<\/p>\n
The bikes, skateboards and ukulele donation was one of the largest Webb Elementary has received, vice principal Brian Gomez said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The younger kids were shown the ruby-red bikes during lunch and were able to take them home later. However, after strapping on free helmets, the fourth and fifth graders were given an all-inclusive beginner crash course in the school\u2019s gym.<\/p>\n
Brian Ball, owner of Square State Skate in Colorado, spent about a half hour teaching the basics to the students. He\u2019s traveled across the country with Can\u2019d Aid for the last five years, pairing his instruction with the nonprofit\u2019s donations.<\/p>\n
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Kids stand on their skateboards at Webb Elementary School on Jan. 15, 2026. (Ismael M. Belkoura | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
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Ruby-red bikes are lined up on the school stage on Jan. 15, 2026. (Ismael M. Belkoura | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
His mindset about skateboarding is simple \u2014 the low bar of entry means anyone can start learning if they want. Skateboarding also allows any person to build community and connection with others, Ball said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really does bring out our humanity more than any device ever could,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
For Gomez, the scope of the donation was secondary to the initial lesson from Ball. The vice principal hopes his students are able to explore more of who they are now that the barrier of acquiring a bike or a skateboard is gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve seen any of our kids on skateboards, but you don\u2019t know what you know you can do unless you\u2019re given the opportunity,\u201d Gomez said. \u201cMy hope is that a lot of them will take on skateboarding, and maybe (it will) be something that they never thought about tapping into, but now may be an avenue for them to pursue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ismael M. Belkoura is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n