HSU Hosts Kicks for Kids Fundraiser

(ABILENE, Texas)–Hardin-Simmons encourages students, faculty, and staff to not only help the school community, but also to serve the Abilene neighborhood. Last Thursday, HSU hosted a fundraiser for Kicks for Kids, a non-profit program that provides the tuition necessary for children to train at Team Chip Tae Kwon Do.

Together with Hardin-Simmons, Team Chip Tae Kwon Do hosted Kicks for Kids a banquet, where ticket sales went towards children’s Tae Kwon Do tuition. The money will help cover some costs like uniforms, gear, and testing. The dinner was Italian-themed, complete with food, magic shows, a silent auction show, and a Live Auction presented by the Team Chip World Class Demo Team.

The foundation’s goal is to empower children through martial arts. By training kids, the organization can provide them with different tools that will help achieve personal satisfaction. These skills include perseverance and responsibility, that help children discover techniques that will help them reach their full potential and become leaders at school, at home, and in the community. The program equips their members with everything they need to study martial arts, especially children who are living near the poverty line in the Abilene area. They provide these children with a way to escape poverty and overcome its effects.

“We provide help to children who face a hard economic situation, and through our program, we try to give them a stable place, fight against the labels, and empower them,” says Leslie Morell, executive director of the organization. “We know that these kids feel different from everybody else when they are outside, but when they are on the mat, they are all the same,” she says.

The organization also aids to the community as a whole, as they offer self-defense classes for women that empower them and train them not to be the victim in the event of an attack.

“Team Chip is the one who made all of this possible. These people deserve a chance in life, and we provide aid to the community. We support the children, and we get the money only from fundraisers, so we are always looking for new donors and opportunities to help the kids,” says Morell.

If you are interested in getting involved with this program or in providing financial assistance, click here.