Dear Friends,

As an avid volunteer through my membership of my high school’s Key Club, I have assisted in accomplishing the missions of numerous organizations. While these organizations have pursued many worthy causes, I must admit that one of my favorite causes is that of Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara.

In case I have not yet had the opportunity to tell you, I have spent some time this summer volunteering for Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara (AKSB) in hopes to help grow the organization’s at-risk youth program. In an effort to give all of Santa Barbara’s youth a chance to participate in the practice of aikido, AKSB is seeking help from the local community in the form of sponsorships and donations.

Although its beginnings date back some time, Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara was reorganized as a nonprofit less than a year ago with a new mission to serve all of Santa Barbara’s youth, focusing on giving underprivileged and at-risk youth the opportunity to practice the non-violent martial art, aikido. This is an endeavor that will truly benefit the community. Why? Aikido is more than a martial art. It serves as a means for children to mature into responsible, patient and poised individuals. It gives youth a fun, and safe environment to help develop the body and cultivate the mind. Martial arts have long been praised for offering children a sense of focus, and dedication, and aikido is no exception.

With the latest downturn of the economy and  the recent fires that have plagued the central coast, many of  Santa Barbara’s families are facing new challenges that they may be unable to handle alone. We can give them and their children a hand. If we are able to give a child the chance to gain from the offerings of aikido, they will in turn grow into someone who positively contributes to our community.

I  truly believe in AKSB’s program, and I would like to ask for your help. Please donate to Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara and help a local youth. Your donation is an investment in your community, and has the potential to change the life of a local underprivileged child. Thank you in advance for your support!