The Impact

"As a single mother, KSK proved to be the life saver my family needed as we began the middle school & high school journey."

"KSK has prevented more crime and freed up more prison space than any program I have seen in 35 years of law enforcement."

"It teaches them discipline, hard work, respect and maybe the thing we need our students to learn the most, it teaches them character."

"Kickstart Kids has taught me to make the right choices and have more self-confidence in whatever I am doing. It has also helped me with my self-esteem and my self-control. I want to thank Kickstart Kids for giving me the opportunity to become a better person and make the right choices."

"Because of Kickstart Kids I have bigger ambitions and higher standards for myself. I have the confidence and courage to overcome challenges in the way of my dreams. I have a responsibility to be a role model for my siblings and peers, inspiring them with the values I’ve been taught through the program curriculum. I want to have a positive impact on my community. Being placed in karate was no accident, it was truly my destiny."

"Kickstart Kids allowed me to discover myself. I made a family by building stronger more meaningful relationships with everyone involved in the program."

"This program not only benefits our children but it also enhances the quality of life for all of us in our community."

"My seventh grade self went into Kickstart with no sense of self or self-worth. Little did I know, Kickstart, the kids I met, and my instructor would benefit my life by shaping me into the young woman I am today and integrating me into an inseparable family."

"I am the parent of two beautiful girls. Not only did Kickstart Kids teach them how to protect themselves, it taught them how to respect themselves and those around them. My oldest is now a member of the Army National Guard. She is what they call a fox in the military; her main focus is intelligence. She briefs Generals on a regular basis with confidence, confidence she obtained in the Kickstart program. You can't put a price tag on that kind of influence through a non-profit program. My other daughter is also excelling in all she does. She is currently a student at Sam Houston University and a manager at the Houston Interactive Aquarium and Animal Preserve. Through Kickstart she learned patience, how to handle tough situations, and once again and most importantly, confidence in herself. I’ve met many other kids during tournaments, and seeing how the program teaches them how to interact with each other, be competitive, but kind to each other at the same time, this program does great things in the lives of our children."

"Kickstart Kids has made a difference in my life and because of that, I want to make a difference in other people’s lives."

"I credit the Kickstart Kids Karate Program for giving me the tools to be a better person for myself and my family."

"I gained the confidence to not only make great friends and memories but it laid a foundation for the person I am today."

""I will always take what I have learned from these experiences and carry them with me wherever I go. Being a team player, a leader, and determined in the workforce as in the karate room.""

"There are so many children that I knew would be successful for life thanks to the character skills they learned from Kickstart Kids."