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ETNIES HOSTS HOLIDAY SKATEPARK FOR BBBS

By ERIKA I. RITCHIE
The Orange County Register

For the third year in a row, the owner and CEO of etnies, made the holidays a little more festive.

On Friday, about 600 needy children crowded etnies Skate Park for the third annual Holiday Festival. Each child unwrapped a box of new etnies action sports shoes, Santa and Mrs. Claus posed for photos and local pro skaters demonstrated tricks.

Children came from Big Brothers Big Sisters of OC and Boys and Girls Clubs from Westminster, Santa Ana and Garden Grove and shelters.

Julian G., 9, was happy to unwrap his black and white skate shoes.

"Those are my favorite colors," said the Anaheim boy, who attended with his younger brothers.

The boys' mother died of cancer earlier this year and getting the free shoes made their Christmas a little happier.

Senizergues, a former pro skater who partnered with the city to help create the skate park three years ago, presented the city with a check for $30,000 to help keep the skate park free to skaters for another year.

"Growing up in Paris I couldn't afford to go to a skate park," said Senizergues, owner and CEO of etnies. "So I told myself that if I was ever in a position to provide kids the opportunity to skate for free, I would do whatever it took to support them and skateboarding."