Waukesha Black Belt Students in the Community
More than 50 women from the community will attended this FREE Waukesha Self Defense event in April 2013:
Waukesha Martial Arts Black Belt Service project for December 2012:
In December 2012, our Black Belts once again chose to support the needy closest to our local Lake Country & Waukesha karate classes by teaming up with the Salvation Army. After speaking with the volunteer coordinator for our area, we became aware that the greatest need they have right now is FOOD. In response to this need, we have elected to conduct a food drive by setting up a "Holiday Feast Tree" in the lobbies of both our Hartland and Waukesha martial arts Dojos.
How can you help?
Simply choose an ornament off the "Holiday Feast Tree", and purchase the items on the ornament's shopping list, returning those items to the bin at the Dojo by Dec. 17th. Last year we ran the same type of food drive and collected more than 1,000 food items. Our black belt goal is to do even better this year!
UPDATE...... American Dojo members collected & donated a record 1,387 food items for the Salvation Army this year!! Awesome work everyone!
Black Belt Service project for June 2012:
Our June 2012 community service project was a Board Break-a-thon for the Hebron House of Waukesha. In conjunction with our DojoFest event on June 26th, American Dojo Black Belts organized & hosted a FUNdraising event for Waukesha county's largest rescue mission. Serving over 2,000 people a year, the Hebron House provides 24 hour assistance to those who need a place to stay, a meal, or help securing permanent housing. MANY of our students & their families got involved in supporting the Hebron House by signing up to participate as board breakers, or by making pledges & donations.
Thanks to the efforts of many American Dojo martial artists $4,067.45 was raised for the Hebron House of Hospitality!!
Special thanks to Break-a-thon corporate sponsors: BIC Automotive , Couri Insurance Agency , & Fuzzy's Pub and Grill for helping to cover the cost of the 1,183 boards that were broken!
Other recent Hartland, WI community involvement.....
On October 23rd, 2010 American Dojo Martial Arts held a “Break-a-thon” fundraiser at their new Lake Country martial arts studio location in Hartland to benefit 12 year old Jessica Clavette in her fight with AML Leukemia. Martial Arts students broke a total of 2,000 boards and raised more than $8,400.00 to help the Clavette family defray medical expenses.
The following is an excerpt from a press release issued the week prior to the event:
On the 23rd American Dojo students will compete to break as many boards as they can in 30 seconds. All proceeds will go to benefit Jessica’s family and medical expenses. Students are encouraged to get sponsors to donate money for each board they can break.
Jessica Clavette of Waukesha is just an average 12 yr. old girl who has a beautiful smile, a big heart and the spirit of a fighter. Jessica was diagnosed with Leukemia (AML) in March of 2010. Jessica is blessed with a great family, and many caring friends who have supported and encouraged her throughout her battle with cancer. Lucky for Jessica, one of her caring friends is Hannah Schiessl, 12, a motivated Black Belt at American Dojo. As Hannah watched her friend Jessica suffering with AML, spending months in the hospital with her parents by her side, her heart broke and she felt compelled to DO something to help.
Hannah is a girl of action, a true Black Belt in spirit, who believes that anyone can make a difference with a little determination, creativity, and perseverance. She went to her instructor Master Dean Konley of American Dojo, asking the following: “I want to raise some money to help my friend Jessica's family. She has cancer and her parents haven’t been able to work much because they’re spending so much time in the hospital with her. The medical bills are piling up too. Can you help me organize a fundraiser for them?”.
Master Konley happily agreed. He was proud to see Hannah demonstrating how she had embodied the principles outlined in American Dojo’s stated mission, part of which reads: “Empowering students & their families through Martial Arts by… Enhancing community through acts of generosity and compassion”
“Nothing could make me happier than to see that one of my students has internalized and applied the character concepts I teach every day through the Martial Arts. Hannah is showing me that she has the spirit of a true Black Belt leader” - Master Konley of American Dojo.
Bi-Annual Black Belt Charity Drives:
In June of 2010, our Black Belts succeeded in collecting more than 75 baby items for the Pregnancy Support Connection, as well as enough cash to purchase 2 brand new infant car seats!! Great work everyone!
Twice each year, in conjunction with our Black Belt graduations in June & December, American Dojo's Waukesha karate class instructors and students conduct some type of charity drive to benefit a local community organization. Some of our past drives have benefited the Women's Center, the Salvation Army, and Teddy Bears 4 Kids. At American Dojo we believe that community involvement is an integral part of being a true Black Belt. This type of involvement is just a small example of what we mean in our mission statement by saying "Enhancing community through acts of generosity & compassion." It is our goal that by conducting these biannual charity drives, and highlighting some exceptional community organizations, our members would develop a vision for branching out, and positively influence our community by volunteering their time & other resources... in essence becoming community Black Belts!
