Chuck Norris
Chairman and Founder
www.kick-start.org

Dear Friends,

When I founded Kick Drugs Out of America in 1990, my primary focus was helping youngsters resist drug-related peer pressures through martial arts training. Of course I understood that the comprehensive benefits to martial arts training far exceed preventing drug use…but that was my primary concern and certainly a major concern for our country.

Within a couple of years of implementation, it became quite clear from evaluation that the impact of the program was much more than helping youngsters resist drugs. Today, our organization is a character building, life-skills program whose fundamental purpose is to give our students the tools to strengthen their self image. When a child develops a strong sense of self-awareness and inner strength, they are able to resist peer pressure including drug and alcohol use and involvement in gangs.

In addition, martial arts training provides them with the core values and philosophies associated with leading a productive and healthy life. That is what we are all about…to give every child a chance for a productive life in which they CAN achieve their goals and dreams. Our current name, while it has served us well, implies too narrow a focus for all that we are accomplishing.

Therefore, we are changing our name to KICK START, which we believe more accurately describes our mission. With our new name and a new marketing focus, we hope to reach more children, which will increase our impact upon the youth of our country.

As always, please know how much your continued support means to me and all of our "karate kids". Now, more than ever, we need you to give every consideration to including using your giving plans.

With warm regards,

Chuck Norris