Enable Disadvantaged Kids to Learn Martial Arts

David Barnett is organizing this fundraiser.

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Martial Artists For Kids is a non-profit organization (501(c)(3) status pending) dedicated to bringing martial arts training to kids that otherwise would not have a chance to participate, due to financial, family, or logistical situations. Our pilot program is at Bricker Elementary School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in the Harrison School District, the lowest per household income district in Colorado Springs.

Tracy Jarboe, Principal of Bricker Elementary, describes the environment: We are a Title One building with 98% free lunch, 40% are non-English speaking, and we have a large number - about 30% - of Special Education Students with an onsite Autism Program. Our students mostly live in our neighboring trailer parks, many are from single income households, single parent households, and many are being raised by grandparents. We have a high amount of illegal aliens, incarcerated parents, substance abuse and gang affiliation in our community. There are many challenges our students need to rise above, and we strive to teach that they CAN rise above the challenges they may face. We are a Leader in Me school and we teach the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People in hopes that these skills will support their personal and professional well-being."

In our first two weeks of the program, we had almost 30 students enroll in our martial arts program! We charge minimal fees ($20 for the Spring session), but have expenses that are not covered by the fees.

All of our instructors have years of martial arts instructing experience, and all of them are 100% volunteer. None of them get paid for teaching these classes. The head instructor, David Barnett, owned and operated martial arts schools for over 25 years, retiring from commercial school ownership a few years ago. The other instructors are all of his students and have been instructors in Master Barnett's schools in the past.

We would like to raise $3,000 to kick-start our program. This money is used for:

Insurance
Business registrations (state, Federal, etc.)
Training Equipment
Domain name and website fees (we have registered MartialArtistsForKids.com and MartialArtistsForKids.org)
Printing
Belts for the students (they earn their white belt after attending 4 classes)
Discounted uniforms for the students (we want it to be affordable for all the students)
Prizes for achieving certain goals, such as turning in a certain number of homework sheets)
Other expenses related to the program
Instructors do NOT receive any payment or even mileage reimbursement for helping with this program. 100% of this money will be used for the program expenses.

We are excited to give back for everything the martial arts has done for us. Thank YOU in advance for helping us reach and help these kids with the physical, mental, and and character-building skills that martial arts can give them!