EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Luis Loya, more commonly known as “Dino,” said skateboarding helped save him at an early stage of his life, and he is now aiming for the sport to do the same for kids and youth in the Borderland through his non-profit organization “Sk84kids.” 

“I was a homeless teenager, so when I started skateboarding it really helped keep me clean and focused. I ended up graduating high school and now I work with the Texas Department of Public Safety, and now I want to help give back to the community that helped me succeed in life,” Loya said. 

Through his law-enforcement experience, Loya witnessed first-hand the impact narcotics have on communities, which prompted him to start the organization which he hopes can help create a positive haven at public skateparks for kids and help keep them on the right path. 

“It’s a way to encourage children and youth to skateboard, to progress, and to do something positive and constructive in their life because skateboarding really is a fantastic mental health activity,” Loya added. 

He founded the organization over a year ago, pouring resources into it from his own pocket, but it has quickly motivated many to jump onboard. 

Sk84kids now has a Board of Directors and passionate coaches that help teach children to skateboard every Monday night for free. 

“Working one-on-one or with multiple kids, seeing the (same) excitement I felt growing up of landing a new trick, seeing their expressions, their faces, the excitement, the progression,” said Gerald Acosta, a board member and coach at Sk84kids, of what he enjoys the most about coaching kids. 

The organization also helps high-school students earn community service hours for graduation through the cleaning of community parks. It also hosts skate competitions throughout the year, offering cash prizes to winners in multiple categories with the support of many community sponsors. 

“These kids are the future of El Paso. It’s nice to know that no matter where they came from, what they’re doing, what they’re struggling with, they are on the right path. And that is what we have to admire,” said Juan Pablo Avendano, the owner of Meta Roofing, which is one of the leading sponsors of the skate competitions. 

To donate or learn more of the organization, you can visit their website at: https://sk84kids.org/