Milwaukee Black Belt Students in the Community
Waukesha community self defense clinic for women:
Black Belt Service project for December 2011:
Join American Dojo's Black Belts in their newest community service project. This December, our Black Belts have once again chosen to support the needy in our local Lake Country & Waukesha communities by teaming up with the Salvation Army of Waukesha County. 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 Waukesha and Hartland 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 750 food items. Let's see if we can do even better this year!
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 conducts some type of charity drive to benefit a local Waukesha charity or Waukesha 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!