Annual Gala Raises Nearly $1 Million
Kickstart Kids 26th Annual Boots and Black Belts Gala on Saturday, March 23, 2019, at the Royal Sonesta Houston – Guests kicked back and celebrated at Kickstart Kids’ “boot scootin’” themed gala celebrating the non-profit organization’s success over the past 26 years. The program has impacted more than 95,000 students to date by teaching character through karate.
The evening honored Linda and Willie Chiang with the Chuck and Gena Norris Character Award for their positive impact on the communities they serve. (Watch their video below)
The Founders’ Vision Award was presented to Palletized Trucking Inc. for their role in helping continue the Kickstart Kids legacy. (Watch their video below.)
A special video testimonial from the Norman family was premiered. All 5 children in the Norman family were students in the Kickstart Kids program. (Watch their story below.)
Event co-chairs Chuck and Gena Norris and Keith and Alice Mosing were proud of the event’s success with nearly $1,000,000 raised to help continue the impact of the Kickstart Kids program. The gala was led by emcee Linda Lorelle who has been a part of the event for the past 26 years.
The crowd was entertained by a very special karate performance by the Kickstart Kids Legacy Team which is made up of students, instructors, and alumni from the program across Southeast Texas and the Kickstart Kids Unified Demonstration Team that is part of the Special Olympics initiative which works to create opportunities for students with disabilities.
Gena Norris thanked guests as she took the stage with her husband and Kickstart Kids founder, Chuck Norris. She said, “Thank you to our generous supporters who come every year to help us grow our program and reach more students with life-affirming lessons by teaching character through karate.”
