Kickstart Kids is a Texas Education Agency recognized, character development program offered during the school day that teaches character through karate to middle and high school students. The program is offered five days per week during the school day, plus free after-school and summer sessions, and the opportunity to participate in Demonstration Teams and weekend tournaments, which keep students engaged with a healthy peer group and under the positive influence of a strong role model and mentor in their instructor. Kickstart Kids reaches adolescents at a critical time in their lives, and through the discipline of the martial arts, instills character, resilience, life skills, self-esteem and social-emotional well-being, improving the likelihood of high school graduation and success in adulthood. The goals of the program are that students will develop and practice values-related behavior and resilience, create stronger school and family connections, achieve higher levels of academic and social success, and become productive members of our community.
Martial arts world champion, actor, and philanthropist Chuck Norris founded Kickstart Kids in 1990, and the first programs were delivered in 1992. Mr. Norris credits his success in large part to his participation in martial arts at a young age, and Gena and Chuck Norris are on a mission to offer every adolescent the opportunity to access the Kickstart Kids program and be empowered to achieve their greatest potential. Since its inception, approximately 120,000 students have benefitted from this one-of-a-kind, life-changing program.
"My first day of karate" - Kickstart Kids Students
Kickstart Kids offers high quality martial arts instruction to adolescents navigating the difficult middle school and high school years. At a time when students are developing their identity and faced with significant life choices, the KSK curriculum promotes community, achievement, leadership, healthy lifestyles and the foundation of character – discipline, responsibility, kindness, respect, courage, dedication, honesty, and loyalty.
Research shows a growing need for character development in the classroom. K-8 principals say their top concern is the rising numbers of students with emotional problems and mental health needs. Lack of funding for arts and sports hinders access to positive youth development opportunities, especially for students from lower income school districts. Kickstart Kids is on the front lines and able to make a profound difference in the lives of students by offering an easily accessible, affordable and inclusive means of engaging students, often in schools with economically-disadvantaged and at-risk populations, in activities that build character and positively affect health, functioning and quality of life, empowering adolescents to achieve their greatest potential. Through Kickstart Kids’ unique layered methodology, which combines character building values curriculum with martial arts training, the program fosters personal growth and achievement, instills social emotional well-being, improves physical health and academic performance, provides out of school activities, develops community and connections, and prevents students from dropping out of school.
As Kickstart Kids continues to improve educational and developmental outcomes for students, school administrators are eager to add the program on their campuses. We are fervently working to raise awareness, develop a robust community of supporters, and augment instructor staff to support the rising costs of program implementation and build capacity to achieve our vision that all adolescents, particularly those in the vulnerable communities where we know our program can have the greatest impact, will have the opportunity to participate in this life-changing program.
Kickstart Kids offers an inclusive environment for all students at a partner school, regardless of any demographic factor, financial hardship, or physical disability, to learn the tools to build strong character and social emotional skills, avoid self-destructive behaviors, resist negative peer pressure and make responsible decisions leading to a life of self-sufficiency and fulfillment.
Organization name
Kickstart Kids
Causes
Education - K-12, Youth & Children, Mental and Behavioral Health
Operating Budget
$3,000,000 - $9,999,999
Counties Served
Dallas, Denton
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx, Native American, Other
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
2431 Hancock St.