Local Karate School Raises $1,700 to help
Boston's Youth
BOSTON, Mass., October 18, 2004— During the month of September, the karate students of Emerald Necklace Budo Martial Arts raised $1,700 in donations for the West End House Boys and Girls Club in Allston, MA. In celebration of its first anniversary, members of the karate school presented their donation to the West End House at the club's 105 Allston Street location on October 15.
According to Jason Gould, Dojo Director
and Chief Instructor, the karate students at Emerald Necklace Budo Martial
Arts regularly participate in community service activities as part of
their Black Belt training.
"Community service is one of the cornerstones of our karate school,
and we demonstrate our values through our actions," Gould says.
"We didn't want our first year at the club to go by without us
doing something positive for the local community. We also wanted to
find a way to express our gratitude to the staff at the Boys and Girls
Club for enabling us to hold our classes in their beautiful facility.
Organizing a fundraiser for their cause seemed like a natural way to
accomplish both objectives."
The mission of the West End House Boys and Girls Club is to inspire and enable youth from all backgrounds to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. The club's membership is primarily comprised of children from low-income families, most of whom cannot afford other extracurricular activities. For only $15 per year per member, the club provides a wide range of educational, recreational, arts, and leadership development programs for young people age 6-18. These programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence.
Gould has been conducting traditional karate classes and self-defense programs for adults at the West End House Boys and Girls Club since October of 2003. He is currently working with the West End House staff to integrate the club's teenage members into his karate program. Classes are held several days each week. Gould can be reached at (617) 230-1973 or at Jason.Gould@karateinboston.com. More information about Emerald Necklace Budo Martial Arts can be found online at www.karateinboston.com.