I am so grateful to everybody that supports the Sheckler

When Ryan Sheckler declared, “I am so grateful to everybody that supports the Sheckler Foundation, and gives us the ability to continue to help kids and injured action sports athletes,” he spoke not as a champion upon his board, but as a servant of a higher calling. His words are filled with the humility of one who understands that personal glory fades, but the good we give to others endures. In them we hear the ancient wisdom that the greatest victories are not those won for oneself, but those shared with the weak, the broken, and the rising generation.

The ancients often honored benefactors more than conquerors. In Athens, those who funded ships for the navy or supported great festivals were remembered not merely for wealth, but for generosity. They bore the title of liturgos—one who carried a public duty. Sheckler’s gratitude echoes this tradition, for he does not exalt himself but gives honor to those who make his mission possible. He shows us that true leadership is not only in striving, but in thanking, in acknowledging that greatness is built upon the shoulders of many.

The Sheckler Foundation, like the institutions of old, exists to heal and uplift. To aid children is to invest in the future; to aid injured action sports athletes is to honor those who risk their bodies for the pursuit of daring. In this, Sheckler acts as both warrior and guardian: a warrior who has known the thrill and danger of the sport, and a guardian who ensures that those who fall are not forgotten. His work is the modern echo of the ancient custom where communities cared for wounded soldiers, ensuring that sacrifice was never met with abandonment.

Consider the story of the Roman general Scipio Africanus, who after great victories cared not only for his men in battle, but also for their families at home. He knew that the strength of an army lies not only in the courage of its warriors but in the assurance that those left behind will be protected. Likewise, Sheckler’s gratitude and his mission are not only about sport—they are about building a community where no one is left to suffer alone.

What makes Sheckler’s words heroic is not the grandeur of his own deeds, but the gratitude he shows. To be thankful is itself a form of strength, for ingratitude corrodes the soul, but gratitude lifts it into harmony with others. By openly acknowledging those who support his foundation, he teaches us that no life is truly self-made. Every triumph is entwined with the unseen kindness of others—the donors, the mentors, the friends who give silently behind the scenes.

The lesson for us is this: cultivate gratitude, and turn your blessings into blessings for others. It is not enough to rise alone; we must reach back and lift others with us. Wealth, fame, or talent find their highest purpose when they are transformed into service. For what good is strength if it is not used to protect the weak? What value is glory if it does not inspire others to rise?

Practically, this means finding ways to give, no matter your station. Support those who struggle. Offer your time, your resources, your encouragement. If you have known triumph, remember those still in battle; if you have known healing, tend to those who are still broken. And above all, be grateful—for gratitude not only honors others, it also guards your heart from pride.

Thus, Ryan Sheckler’s words stand as a torch of wisdom: be grateful, serve the weak, and build legacies not of trophies but of lives transformed. For the greatest athletes, the greatest leaders, the greatest humans are not those who shine alone, but those who use their light to illuminate the path for others. And in this, they become immortal.