What is National Martial Arts Day? 

DEAR STUDIO OWNER: IF YOU CARE ABOUT CHILDREN…
PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS!

· Would you like to be able to never turn away another  child because he/she couldn't afford you program?

· Would you like to have access to government and corporate funding?

· Have you ever done a fund-raiser for charity?

· Would you like to see your fund-raising dollars at work right at your own studio helping children?

· Would you like to create a partnership with local schools and law enforcement, which would build and promote you image in the community?

PROJECT ACTION CAN HELP YOU DO IT!
Okay, admit it…
You've been known to teach underprivileged children who couldn't afford to pay you. You let them do work around the office or the deck, etc. You've noticed that some of these children have really turned around since they started classes - grades have gone up, morale has improved, and they haven't gotten in trouble with the law.

You aren't alone; many studio owners across the country are doing it. You do it because you care about children and because you know from experience the positive impact your program has on them. Often, a potential criminal can be turned into a community leader. The downfall is that serious studio owners can only give away so much class space and still keep their doors open.

What you may not realize is that there are funds available to you for just this purpose - for doing what you are already doing! Moreover, an award winning non-profit organization, Project Action Foundation, can help you to obtain these funds. Through Project Action, children, for whom your program would normally be out of reach, can now reap the many benefits of training at your studio.

WHAT IS PROJECT ACTION FOUNDATION, INC.?
Project Action Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide disadvantaged and "at risk" children the opportunity to obtain training in the physical and cultural arts of dance, gymnastics and martial arts.

The goal of the foundation is to build self-esteem, teach goal setting skills, create positive peer groups, provide the children with positive activities, and to eventually produce better-educated, contributing and productive members of our society. The foundation is supported through fund-raising, corporate sponsorships, grants and the development of philanthropic resources.

HERE'S HOW IT WORK…
Participating sponsor studios host a Project Action fund-raiser, much like you would for any other charity.
The difference is: 1) 60% of the proceeds your students raise for your event, and 80% of any corporate matching funds Project Action is able to help you obtain, are credited to your studio account. These funds are used for scholarship tuition at your studio exclusively. 2) Another 30% of the proceeds are used to support your event. Project Action provides you with easy to use fund-raising kits complete with simple instructions, color posters, a sample prize T-shirt, pledge sheets, etc.. Project Action also provides your participating students with awards,  T-shirts and medals commemorating the event. Project Action's "Locker Full of Prizes" program provides participating students with a cumulative choice of up to 10 of 41 great prizes and each participant is provided with a full color poster of all the prizes with their pledge sheet  In addition, each participating studio is also assigned an Event Specialist. They will personally assist your studio in obtaining matching corporate funds, community support, media coverage and on how to use Project Action's website to secure other donations.

THE SCHOLARSHIP PROCESS Project Action pays participating sponsor studios $720.00 a year per scholarship child. You may join Project Action by completing and sending back the attached sponsor studio application. Once your application is approved you will receive a Sponsor Studio Kit containing scholarship applications and your sponsor studio number. This number is used to track funds associated with your studio.

Upon receiving and processing a scholarship application from your studio, Project Action will send you a quarterly attendance card and a check for $180.00 covering the child's first 3 months of training. At the end of 3 months you send back the completed attendance card and Project Action sends you the next quarters' tuition and a new attendance card. The only other requirement is that we must have ongoing copies of each student's report cards, as we are in the process of tracking and proving measurable results.

In addition to funding scholarships for disadvantaged youngsters at your studio and closely supporting your events, Project Action will:

· Help you locate children for the scholarship program.
· Monitor the child's attendance and progress in your program.
· Monitor the child's scholastic and behavioral progress.

If the question you're asking now is "how do I get started?" the answer is, fill out and send back the Sponsor Studio Application. Show your commitment to Project Action by also setting a tentative date for sponsoring a Project Action fund-raiser. Write that date in the appropriate place on the application as well as listing the kind of fund-raiser to be held. Project Action will call to confirm before shipping your fund-raising kit.

A CALL TO ACTION
Through Project Action, thousands of martial arts, dance and gymnastics studio owners are coming together to have a positive impact on our country. By getting children who really need it into their programs, they are making a difference. Our country is looking for answers to help fight the growing epidemic of juvenile crime that is sweeping this nation. These studios provide an answer.

Success has always been closely tied to "giving back". What goes around comes around. You and your students may already be doing fund-raisers for various charities and other causes. Why not raise charitable funds for students that you will teach?

If you would like to become involved, please complete the Sponsor Studio Application and send it to Project Action. It may also be faxed to (727) 398-5501. For any additional information, please call 888-343-KIDS (5437).

We look forward to working with you to better your community.
THE REST IS UP TO YOU!

Cover Story Martial Arts Professional Magazine January 2003

"Helping Kids Stay Off The Streets And In Your School"

The idea for Project Action Foundation came from Jim Graden's childhood karate training under Walt Bone. Jim Graden and his training partner Kevin Walker, founders of Project Action, explain how they started the organization, how it works, and how it is progressing.

MAPro: What was your motivation for starting the Project Action Foundation?

Jim:  There have always been children attracted to martial arts schools in America who can not pay for lessons.  The majority of martial arts schools in this country have some type of way to allow underprivileged kids to participate in their facility.  My brothers and I are all products of this. Our first martial arts instructor, Walt Bone, allowed  us to clean the school  for our lessons.  Without that there would have been no Project Action, no NAPMA, no Martial Arts Professional, no IKON and no ACMA.  Because of his benevolence, I now get to do what I love for a living and help others at the same time.

Growing up in a karate school was great. I lived at the school. It gave me a purpose, but as I got older I started to notice that my instructor was having financial trouble. The fact is, he was too nice. Because he could never turn a child away and never really focused on business,  people took advantage. Being a great martial artist and a great guy was not enough. This had a huge impact on me growing up.

People who are willing to help others should be rewarded, not punished.  Project Action allows school owners to help at-risk kids and be compensated for it.  I also believe it is important that when you have success you give back what you can.  Project Action is a way for the entire martial arts community to give back by helping at-risk children.

Kevin: I began training in Uechiryu in June of 1971, at the age of nine.  After a four year break during high school I began training again in 1980 at St. Petersburg Junior College under John Graden.  My passion for martial arts consumed me and I found myself working out 3 times a day, 6 and 7 days a week.  My life revolved around my martial arts.

In the early 90s, John and Jim Graden had embraced a concept developed by the Educational Funding Company (EFC) called the Sparrow program.  The idea was to contact your local public school system and allow them to refer needy children to your martial arts school for free classes.This would establish a beneficial working relationship with local elementary, middle and high schools while also contributing to the improvement of the community.  The martial arts school owner was then encouraged to raise funds on behalf of the Sparrow program to offset some of the costs of teaching the children.

The problem with the Sparrow program was that it was an idea and not an entity.  You cannot legally and ethically raise money for a non-existent, unregistered charity.  Later I spoke to numerous school owners who accepted referrals and taught children free under the Sparrow program name but most never raised money because they didn't feel comfortable in doing this, and rightfully so.

In 1993 I approached John and Jim with an idea to tap into various existing resources to allow martial arts schools to be able to reach out to large numbers of disadvantaged children.  As a licensed life insurance agent with estate planning experience, I realized the vast potential charitable giving and philanthropy could play in providing the resources needed to allow underprivileged children an opportunity to train at the thousands of quality martial arts schools nationwide.

Jim and I went to work creating what in October 1994 became Project Action Foundation.

Jim interjects: Which included many all-nighters researching, developing and debating which direction Project Action should take since both of us already had full-time jobs.

Kevin:  I secured an initial $30,000 in starting capital, and in 1995, our county Juvenile Welfare Board awarded us a $25,000 grant to continue our local initiatives.  By the end of 1995, close to 100 Florida schools were participating, and in 1996, we launched Project Action nationally.

MAPro: Project Action calls itself a juvenile crime fighting organization.  How do you fight juvenile crime?

Kevin:  First of all, we consider Project Action a juvenile crime prevention/early intervention program as opposed to  rehabilitation.  The U.S. Department of Juvenile Justice takes a scientific approach to preventing juvenile crime called "risk factor/protective factor" management.  They have come up with 25 risk categories that contribute to children getting involved in crime.  They have also come up with protective factors that counteract the negative risk factors.  For example, 'peer group involved in problem behavior' is a risk factor. A  'protective' factor countering the negative risk factor would be 'provide that child with a positive peer group'.  In another example, 'lack of commitment to school' (risk factor) could be countered with 'provide that child with tutors and motivation' (protective factor). 

Project Action uses these same risk factors to determine scholarship program eligibility and the martial arts, dance or gymnastic schools provide  the protective factors.  You would be surprised how broad these factors are and this is the reason Project Action has never refused a child.   Two of these risk factors are parental conflict and poor family management practices.  That pretty much describes everybody, doesn't it? (Kevin laughs)

Jim:  I  am a strong believer that  the majority of children, if given a choice between a positive peer group and a negative peer group, will pick the positive peer group.  The problem is so many children do not have that choice.  Project Action allows at-risk children a chance to participate in dance, gymnastics and martial arts programs that are normally out of reach for these children primarily because of economics.  I have always felt that the physical arts have had more of an impact on children than just sports.  The discipline and focus it requires to be good at martial arts, dance and gymnastics are the same character-building elements that are required for someone to achieve in life.

Project Action does not have the false belief that it can change a hardened criminal into a perfect citizen.  We are dedicated to getting to the child before they become that hardened criminal.  There are so many good kids out there that if they were just put in a positive peer group with positive role models they would be great kids.

Kevin:  One of my favorite questions that I ask school owners is, "Do you believe what you do helps children?'"  For the next five or ten minutes I usually can't get a word in edgewise as the school owner relates to me their own personal experiences on changing children's lives through their school.

MAPro: How does Project Action work?

Jim:  Project Action works because it gets the karate school involved with local law enforcement and local school boards and together they help out underprivileged kids. Project Action also helps the studio promote a fundraiser.  This fundraising event helps the school get community support and corporate sponsorship to help raise money for at-risk kids.  Eighty percent of the money raised by the school goes right back to the school owner in the form of scholarship tuition to sponsor kids on their deck.  Ten percent of the funds goes to supporting their fundraiser.  We supply every school with a complete fundraiser kit that is A-Z on how to promote a successful event at their facility.  We supply press releases to local media, a fundraiser management guide, full color posters to promote the event, a timeline that tells everything that should happen to make that event successful,  prizes  for the kids who raise the most money, and even "Winning Attitude" ribbons and Good Citizenship awards for every child that participates. 

Kevin:  Project Action pays school owners $150 per child for three months training up front.  Project Action sends the $150 along with an attendance card.  At the end of the three months the schools mail back the attendance card in our business reply envelope and we send them the next three months tuition.  It is just that simple, and we have never declined a child.  Project Action also assigns each school an event specialist who will help them step by step through their event.  Our event specialist will even help the school get a Wal-Mart match. 

MAPro: How is Wal-Mart involved?

Jim:  Over the past eight years of existence, Project Action has established a tremendous relationship with the Wal-Mart foundation and other corporations.  The Wal-Mart Foundation has to date, donated over $100,000 to participating schools.  This has been accomplished through their matching grant program.  When a school does a fundraiser, the Wal-Mart Foundation may match the funds the school has raised.  For example, if a school raises $1,000 the Wal-Mart Foundation may match it, thereby doubling the amount of money the school owner has to help children.  This is one of the great benefits of working with the Project Action Foundation.  This can only happen with a registered 501C3 charity that is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.  Project Action has also received funds from many other corporations including American Express, Allstate, Nike, Home Depot, Prudential and others.

MAPro: Who decides which children participate?

Jim:  That decision is left completely up to the school owner.  Again, we are not trying to reform hardened criminals, we are trying to be positive influences on "fence sitters", kids who could go either way.  School owners have complete control over who they will allow to become Project Action students.  We highly recommend they partner up with local law enforcement, especially their public school resource officers and school counselors.  This should become their primary resource for referrals.  As I stated before, the school owner has the right to accept or refuse any child. 

Project Action has opened the doors for many participating schools to be a able to contact their local public schools and establish the necessary contacts to make themselves  known in their community.  There is a big difference when you are approaching your local public schools as someone who is helping children through a national children's charity than someone just trying to promote their business.

Kevin:  Many school owners already have some children that are training at no charge.  These children immediately qualify and are generally the first scholarship applications a new sponsor school submits. 

MAPro: How does the Project Action Foundation help school owners promote their business?

Kevin:  Most successful martial arts school owners frequently host events and activities to promote their business and attract new students.  Project Action combines all the elements of a successful promotional event as well as providing a purpose to invite the public into their facility and expose their community to their programs.

Jim:  It is just good business to get involved in your community.  Project Action opens the door to  develop relationships with the local police department,  the public schools, the chamber of commerce, and the media. This was the reason we partnered with the National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA) to create National Martial Arts Day (NMAD); to help martial arts schools to promote the benefits of martial art training.

MAPro: What is National Martial Arts Day?

Jim: National Martial Arts Day was created to bring attention to the many benefits of participating in martial arts.  The first National Martial Arts Day was on October 19, 2002.  Close to 200 martial arts schools across the country celebrated  National Martial Arts Day by hosting a Project Action fundraiser.  Many of these schools, in addition to the fundraiser, had an Open House, Bring a Buddy Day, or demonstrations to celebrate National Martial Arts Day.  This gives us, as a martial arts community, one day we can call our own.  Twenty-three governors from twenty-three states officially recognized National Martial Arts Day through proclamations.  Many school owners were able to get mayors and other dignitaries and celebrities to attend their event because it was officially recognized by their local government.  These schools raised over $185,000.  These funds will provide scholarships for over 500 children at participating schools. 

Kevin:  The second annual NMAD will be on Saturday, October 18, 2003, and we hope to have enough participating schools to break our current World Record of 4.7 million kicks performed in one hour.  Our goal also is to receive proclamations from all 50 state governors.  

 MAPro: How can Project Action help a school owner get publicity for a fundraising event?

Jim:  Many schools have taken advantage of the fact that, by law under federal guidelines,  radio stations must broadcast a certain number of 'public service announcements' (PSA's).  These PSA's must be donated to charities and community based organizations.  Through Project Action, many schools have received free air time and DJ's have come out to broadcast live at no cost.  School owners consistently send Project Action newspaper articles and cassette tapes of TV news spots they have received at no cost promoting their Project Action events.
Kevin:  Project Action includes ready-made press releases in their fundraising kits for schools to mail or fax to the media, making it simple to attract media attention.  Project Action Event Specialists are there to help you get the most out of your local media.

MAPro: How have school owners embraced Project Action?

Kevin:  Project Actions main function is to service school owners.  Project Action currently has over 3,000 participating schools nationwide.  These schools are Project Action.  Not only do they promote Project Action in their community by hosting events, but they also are the program because they are teaching the children.  Project Action helps these schools by providing a legal entity to conduct fundraisers in support of their program and also by maintaining legal compliances by monitoring the children. 

I once heard a speaker state that you know you are finally providing quality service when your customers start preceding your name with 'my' instead of 'the'  as in 'my accountant', 'my financial advisor', 'my charity'.  This is when they feel comfortable referring people to you because you are providing them with quality service.  Project Action is able to provide service to school owners for a small fraction of what it would cost if they were to try and do something like this on their own.  That  is why we are proud that school owners across the country feel Project Action is a charity worthy to call their own.

Jim:  A very good example of one of our sponsor schools that has really embraced the concept of calling Project Action a charity of their own is Don Frack, owner of Martial Art Innovations in Covina, CA.  Don has had great success with Project Action fundraisers raising over $40,000 in the last three years.  He has received the key to his city. Mayors, dignitaries, and celebrities have come out to his events.  Don has really become a representative of Project Action in his community 

Don is not the only one that has really embraced the concept of Project Action and has made it a charity of their own.   There is one school in North Carolina that had two DJ's from two local radio stations dueling to see who could raise the most money for Project Action.  Of course the school owner received tremendous publicity from this event.  Project Action allows you to go into your community representing a nationally known organization.  

MAPro: What do you see in the future of Project Action?

Kevin:  Our original idea was to enable martial arts, dance and gymnastics schools to be able to help needy children by accessing the benefits of an IRS certified non-profit charity without the complication and ongoing expense of trying to create one themselves.  Some schools have partnered with Project Action in writing grants.  Some have received bequests from estates.  Many have received large checks from big corporations and contributions  from other businesses in their area.  And of course, hundreds of schools are utilizing the proceeds of tax deductible donations generated by their Project Action fundraisers.

We also are working on expanding our role in helping schools receive recognition and positive exposure.  We are developing a community outreach package which will instruct school owners in public speaking, provide presentations and assist them in getting in front of community groups, such as chambers of commerce, Kiwanis, Sertoma and Optomist clubs and other civic and social organizations.  This package will also include several simple ways for the organizations to contribute to the school owners' Project Action program.

Project Action also has a program called S.A.V.E. (Survival Against Violent Encounters) that school owners can utilize to go after grants and other sources of funding to teach self defense and awareness seminars to the general public.      

Jim:  We knew when we started Project Action that we were in for the long haul. You do not create a legitimate national children's charity overnight. Now that we are in our ninth year,  people are starting to stand up and take notice. Project Action is now in every major city in the United States, impacting thousands of children. Our goal now is to get more corporate support and to do larger and more press-worthy events like National Martial Arts Day.  The martial arts community really needs to get behind National Martial Arts Day. So, for one day a year, the entire nation can take notice of all the  positive benefits associated with training in martial arts. What better way to impress that on our society than an organization using martial arts to heal one of the ills of this nation, juvenile crime.

We also now have the facts to prove that martial arts is beneficial. Project Action has been collecting report cards for the last eight years. We can prove that martial arts positively impacts children; we have the facts to prove it.

One of the proudest moments of my life was when Kevin and I received the 1997 Governor's Award from the late Florida Governor, Lawton Chiles. I was so proud that Project Action was being recognized outside the martial arts community for helping children. I truly believe that Project Action can do the same thing on a national level. Not just being recognized by the governor,  but by the President.

                          STUDIO OWNER TESTIMONIALS    

"Project Action allows me to offer lessons to students who normally would not be able to afford it, kids who really need it. I couldn't fill my school with non-paying students. I've always had some non-paying students; Project Action has allowed me to expand that. It allows me to put my best foot forward for the community."
Steve Larson, Studio Owner, Longview, WA

"For me, Project Action's biggest advantage is it brings the students who would normally be barred by finances. These are the students who usually need it the most."
Tim Nixon, Studio Owner, Greenwood, AR

"It's been a big help for the school as far as income and making positive changes for the students."
Carlos Howard, Studio Owner, Greenville, SC

"It's probably the best way to go if you want to help "at risk" students and not have to deal with the stress of not receiving any tuition. Plus when it's time for the fund-raiser, it's a great retention tool. It motivates the students, gets the parents involved and creates a family environment."
John S. Goode, Studio Owner, Lynchburg, VA

"We all have kids on the floor who are not paying. I can't turn away a child over money. Project Action helps me have some income for a kid I wouldn't charge anyway. Pretty much, those kids are the "at risk" kids. These kids are in a lot of pain. My studio is one of the few places in their lives they can feel safe. It is a resource that helps me to afford other things."
Ed Guerera, Studio Owner, Oakview, CA

"Project Action has helped us bring our community together and directly benefit it's youth. Project Action makes a difference."
Don Frack, Studio Owner, Covina, CA

"Our participation in Project Action fund raising events not only facilitates tuition funding for deserving but underprivileged youngsters in the community, but serves as a source of pride and accomplishment for those current members of the school who donate their time and effort to help out."
Sifu John Loupos, Studio Owner, Cohasset, MA

"I've been participating with Project Action for years and the best thing I can say is it allows me to take children I couldn't financially afford to help before and turn them into winners."
Carl Stone, Studio Owner, Largo, FL