Want to make a difference? There are more than 11 million young people under the age of 18 living in poverty in the United States today. Census.gov rates the national average at 16% - That's an average of 1 in 7 young people! Many of these young people come from single parent homes or homes where both parents are working all of the time just to make ends meet. As a result, some of these young people don't get to spend much time with their parent(s) and lack other positive role models in their neighborhoods. The parents try their best, but are often working so hard just to make sure that the basic needs of their children are met that they can't spend much time at home, and they lack the income to enroll their kids in sports and other athletic programs, such as martial arts classes, which combine exercise and fun with the development of positive values and character traits that will help them through the challenges that they face on the way to adulthood. The neighborhoods that they are forced to live in are typically poor and rife with violence and crime … and many turn to drugs and criminal activity to escape from their circumstances. With 1 in 7 children living in such conditions, it is now more critical than ever that our young people have good role models and mentors to assist struggling parents in ensuring that their children live a happy life and have the opportunity for a bright future...

…that's where your donations and our Joni's Angels Martial Arts Scholarship program comes in.

Here at Joni's Angels, we actively seek out the very best martial arts schools - with a history of providing great mentorship and guidance, along with fun and fitness, in their youth programs. We look for schools with Instructors who are good role models, and who help the young people in their classes by helping them develop self-discipline, confidence, character and resilience - all while providing a safe and positive atmosphere where they can engage in fun with their mentors and peers. Then we use YOUR DONATIONS to pay for young people living in poverty to attend classes at these schools - all expenses paid - for an entire year!

There are literally thousands of case studies that show how the study and practice of martial arts fosters discipline, focus, self-esteem, respect, and self-control -all while providing a positive outlet for youth in challenging circumstances - and here at Joni's Angels, we know the life-changing difference that a great martial arts Instructor can make for a young person living in poverty first-hand. Our C.O.O. , Sifu Charlie Hicks, was one of the young people that our program is designed to help, and he credits his four great martial arts Instructors for helping him grow into a happy and productive human being while his childhood friends (as well as some of his family members) fell into a life of crime and have spent most of their adult years behind bars. YOUR DONATION will help us help other young people in much the same way - so please, give if you can. TOGETHER, we make a life-changing difference for today's poverty-level youth. Thank you so much for your donation and support!

Donate to Joni's Angels & Help Change Lives