Balanced Life Skills Martial Arts

For the past 5 weeks Balanced Life Skills has been seeking the support and help of local businesses and individuals in our efforts to support teens from Anne Arundel County who find themselves in foster care. There are over 100 teens in foster care who in our opinion deserve to have a nice Christmas this year. Over the last couple of years we have been able to give them a gift card or two for them to take to the store and find something that they would like to have.

This year has been a bit more difficult and we are appealing to all in our area to help us in this final week to provide a small gift card to each of these teens. I have attached a letter and form for making a contribution either by cash or gift card for this very worthy endeavor. Foster Teens request

Thank you for your assistance and please share this request with others.  A small donation by many will be the way we make a difference in the lives of these young boys and girls.

On Friday October 14,  the Grants 4 Teachers advisory board met and discussed the largest number of grant request ever made to this fund.  There were 54 grant requests for over $23,000 for all kinds of projects and materials needed by teachers to do an extraordinary job.

Each year G4T has two cycles of grant funding that takes place, filling needs for special field trips, supplying community service materials for classrooms, musical instruments and many other items that keep teachers from reaching their hands into their own pockets for that project.  It is estimated that every school teacher spends about $1000.00 every year of their own money for their classroom.

G4T wants the teachers of Anne Arundel County to know that we value them as one of the most important resources we have in the county.  We do this by providing some funds for those innovative, creative projects that would otherwise go without being done.

If you are a teacher in the county and have a creative way that you would like to approach a subject, please apply for a grant.  Many times we are able to combine our efforts with others that appreciate teachers and larger grants are made available.  This year we were very moved by one teacher who offered to make up the difference in the grant and what was needed themselves.  What dedication!

If you are a member of the community and would like to support our efforts to show teachers how much we appreciate them you can learn more at Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County.

The school year has open and is well underway.  It is time for all of us to show our support for teachers in our community, as they are one of our most valuable resources.  Grants4Teachers is now accepting grant applications from AACPS teachers for those special projects in their classroom that will not be funded by others.

We are looking for creative ideas that teachers would like to implement to bring the love and joy of learning to their students.  If you are a teacher please think about what you could do special with your students if you only had the money for the supplies.  If you are a parent, be sure to share this opportunity with your school and all the teachers.  We have supplied violins, trips, and some very special art project materials in the past and we are looking forward to doing the same this fall.

Here is the website for complete information:  http://www.cfaac.org/receive/grants4teachers

Here is the simple one page application: Grants 4 Teachers – Grant

Joey S.  gets it.  He has been working so hard over the last year as he trains in tae kwon do and in his personal training too.  Joey has become one of the physically strongest students in class – in fact one of the most improved too.  This summer he accomplished a very tough goal – biking the Great Alleghany Passage Trail from Frostburg to Meyersdale and back.  A total of 32 miles.  His goal was a 25 mile trek.  What a great accomplishment.

In addition he has not forgotten the importance of doing for others. For the past 4 years when he has a birthday party, Joey invites his friends to make food donations to the Lighthouse Shelter instead of gifts.  This year was no different.  His family and him delivered the food this past Saturday.  Happy Birthday Joey and congratulations on your bike ride this summer.

Office Depot and Target are two companies among many that give donations of backpacks and school supplies to children as they start the new school year.

Through the award-winning National Backpack Program, which is now in its 11th year, the Office Depot Foundation will help deserving children prepare for school by donating 350,000 sackpacks across the United States and internationally. The newly designed sackpacks, which were specially created for the Foundation, reflect and respond to changes in the ways that children are taking their materials to school.

In many communities, Target stores will team up with local charities to provide new clothes and school supplies to children as they get ready for the school year.

Why is this so important?  It is amazing the difference it can make on the outlook of a child if they are able to have the proper school supplies and a few new things – for the start of their new school year.  It can get them off on the right foot and make them feel a bit more confident.

We have that opportunity also in our community, by either putting together a backpack with school supplies for a specific child or providing just $50 to AACPS with the note (backpack project).  Imagine the look in the eyes of a young child as they have brand new supplies like everyone else as they go off to school.   You may choose to put a brief note of encouragement in the bag too. (you will not find this on aacps website.  It is run by individuals in the administration of the school system, and I am fortunate enough to have a contact that will accept our donations too!)

Last year one simple note of encouragement “You are going to have a great year”, was saved by the student for the entire year in his desk.  He was motivated by that note all year long.  If you are interested in helping, just let me know and I will be happy to tell you how you can do so.  Time is of the essence.

Balanced Life Skills has just sent out over 600 pairs of shoes to Soles 4 Souls.  They will deliver them to children and  individuals around the world, many of them who have never owned a pair of shoes before.  We are grateful for the wonderful contribution and service made by Pitt Ohio Express who came, shrink wrapped the pallets and loaded them on the truck.  The driver was very pleasant and helpful.  Our own students put the shoes together and boxed them up to prepare them for shipping.

Friday July 22, 2011 Annapolis, MD – Balanced Life Skills students and families came together and made 150 jump ropes that will be sent with Brian Williams and Think Kindness to an orphanage in Kenya. The name of the orphanage is Tumaini. Through the very high temperatures and high humidity the outside work was done, like cutting and sanding the handles and carturizing the ends of the rope, while taping the handles and putting the ropes together was done inside Balanced Life Skills studio.

Children as young as 3 helped while mom’s and dad’s and students of all ages did there share of the work. With some volunteers arriving at 9 AM all 150 jump ropes were completed by 12:30 PM. This was a great effort by over 30 volunteers, as they made very quick work of the project. Balanced Life Skills Martial Arts encourages all of their students to take part in community service as a part of their training in the martial arts.

Last year, I had the privilege of traveling with Think Kindness to Kenya and spend time at the orphanage, delivering shoes, school supplies and jump ropes. In addition as a group we were able to help them purchase chickens for their use on the grounds that will compliment the gardens that feed the children.

Late this year in December, I will be returning to Kenya with Brian and others, including doctors, dentist and nurses, to assist in the establishment of a medical clinic, and of course, spend some time with the children. Spending time with the children is so exciting, as they all have a story and you must just love their smiles. I hope you enjoy the video we made of making the jump ropes.

Here is a link to some of the photos we took at the jump rope making event. PHOTOS

This year ThinkKindness.org will be traveling to Kenya once again to visit and support the orphanage in Tumaini. Though I am unable to make this trip, I will be returning with a group of medical personnel in December to establish a medical clinic.

For the time though Balanced Life Skills students will once again make jump ropes for the children in Kenya. We need your help in making them. Please check out this short video for more information.

I grew my hair long so that I could donate it to a charity that would make wigs for kids that had cancer or other illnesses that made them lose their hair.  It all started several years ago when I saw a kid here at Balanced Life Skills Read the rest of this entry →