It simply doesn’t get any better than getting to skate with all of your friends while giving back to the community you grew up in. Cameron Eichenbaum started interning with us as a teenager and has been a part of the family ever since. Despite moving away to attend college in Southern California, he stays connected to the Oakland community and does everything he can to support it.
With his 2nd Annual Abstract Habit Co. Holiday Drive coming up this Saturday, December 17th, we caught up with Cameron to hear about the importance of giving back through skateboarding, why he’ll always have love for his city, and the overwhelming positive impact skateboarding can have on the youth of Oakland.
The whole crew rolled out for last year’s Holiday Drive.
So, for the people that aren’t familiar with your story or the last time we spoke, how far does your history with Deluxe go back? How soon after interning here did you start your brand, Abstract Habit?
Well, let’s say I have been around Deluxe for the last 5-6 years and I started Abstract Habit about 2 years after interning there.
Prince putting it down. East Oakland Park, 2015.
How soon after getting the brand going did you have the idea to do an event to give back to the kids in the community? Was there something that inspired the event?
Well I started my company back in 2012 and it wasn’t until 2015 I decided that I wanted to create this project. I was inspired by wanting to help make an impact on my community so I figured the best way to do it would be through skateboarding. I told some friends about my idea,and shortly after we all began to rally together to make our first event happen last year.
Terrell Newell over the chasm.
You grew up in Oakland, but have since moved away to attend school in Southern California. Why do you think it’s important to come back and support where you’re from? It seems like a lot of times people leave where they are from and never look back. Why is it different for you?
I believe that is the most, the most, important thing to me. Supporting my community and trying to provide opportunity to the youth. It’s important because the youth deserve the chance to be able to stay away from violence in their neighborhoods and if I can make an impact by providing them with a skateboard with the help of my friends, then let’s do this for as long as we can. I don’t think I can ever go far from Oakland without trying to help the community in some way. I love this city.
Can you explain a little bit about how the event works, how do you go about getting donations and support from the skate community? Is there anything that has surprised you in the process?
Well the main thing that surprised me was the amount of support we received. I didn’t think the project would receive this much support. The skate community has been a big supporter of the event. A lot of companies sponsored the event and were really happy to help. We also accept donations through our local skate shops. People can go out to the shops and donate new and lightly used gear that we also hand out at the event. Once we have all the gifts, on the day of the event we have a few activities where we give out prizes throughout the day, then we end the day with handing out the donated gifts to the less fortunate kids.
Do you feel that there is something particular about skateboarding that makes it a good outlet for kids in tough situations growing up? From our history together I know you’ve mentioned that it helped you a lot during tough times. Does that play into your motivation to help the kids in the Oakland Community?
I believe skateboarding can be a tool to overcome many different obstacles and it has for sure been a tool I’ve used over the years. Skateboarding has always been an outlet for me and of course it plays motivation in why I want to help the youth of Oakland. Knowing how much my board meant to me growing up, I hope providing the youth with skateboards will help them as much as it helped me. Skateboarding really changed my life and I am hoping with this event, we can change a few more.
Do you have any favorite memories from last year’s event or anything that stands out in your mind as something special you got to see at the event?
Just the smiles on the kid’s faces when they received the gifts. It made me feel like the event was successful because of so many happy faces. That has to be my favorite memory.
Nothing but smiles.
What is the plan for this year’s event, who all is going to be rolling out for it?
Well last year event was in East Oakland, this year it is going to be West Oakland at Town park, so I’m looking forward to the skating from all of the homies, and honestly I don’t know who’s rolling out, but the event is the night after the SOTY party, so hopefully most of my friends come out and skate a with the kids. But who knows, gotta show up and see!
Is there anyone you want to thank?
First I would like to thank Jim T. and of course the whole entire crew at DLX, you guys helped make all this possible and always have my back. I would also like to thank our generous sponsors, Stance Socks,Thrasher Magazine, Adidas Skateboarding, Grizzly Griptape, Nike SB, FTC, 510 Skateshop, Macarthur Skateshop, Diamond Supply, Create Skateboards and Kdub over at Town Park. All these people helped contribute and make this event possible, without these guys there wouldn’t be a holiday drive. Also, I would like to thank all the volunteers and all my friends who have been helping me pull this together, you guys have been a great help.
Major on the mic.
Hope to see everyone this Saturday, December 17th at the West Oakland Town Park for the 2nd Annual Holiday Drive. For more info and updates on the event follow @abstracthabitco .
All photos by @cormacculate