KICKSTART KIDS

Description

Martial arts world champion, actor, and philanthropist Chuck Norris founded Kickstart Kids in 1990, and the first programs were delivered in 1992. Mr. Norris credits success in life to his participation in martial arts at a young age, and Gena and Chuck Norris have a vision that all youth will have the tools and support to build a better life through Kickstart Kids. In the 2023-24 school year, approximately 9,000 students are participating in 59 schools across Texas. Since its inception, more than 110,000 students have benefitted from this one-of-a-kind, life-changing program. School leadership has praised the KSK curriculum for its positive impacts on students, schools, families, and communities.

Kickstart Kids is a TEA recognized, in-school character development program that uses martial arts to teach life-changing values to middle and high school students. Kickstart Kids is offered five days/week during the school day, plus free after-school and summer sessions, and the opportunity to participate in Demonstration Teams and weekend tournaments, which keep students engaged with a healthy peer group and under the positive influence of a strong role model and mentor in their instructor. Kickstart Kids reaches at-risk adolescents at a critical time in their lives, and through the discipline of the martial arts, instills character, resilience, life skills, self-esteem and social-emotional well-being, improving the likelihood of high school graduation and success in adulthood.