Press Release: Growing Aikido Nonprofit in Search of a New Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 31, 2010

Contact:

Joni Kelly
805-886-1869
jonirod2@aol.com

Growing Aikido Nonprofit in Search of a New Home

“Fall-A-Thon” Event to Raise Funds for Larger Space

On Tuesday, September 21^st, Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara (AKSB), a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit aikido school for adults and children, will hold a “Fall-A-Thon” to raise funds for their new home. The free event, which is open to the public, will begin at 5:30 at the Santa Barbara Buddhist Temple at 1015 East Montecito Street. Since the event will be held in the fall, and participants will be doing a lot of falling, the name was changed to “Fall-A-Thon.”

Previously AKSB has held “Roll-A-Thon” events, where participants are thrown over and over into a roll, limited only by their stamina and allotted time. This year’s event will include a Roll-A-Thon, but will also feature demonstrations by teen and adult members, a Silent Auction, plus appearances by local personalities such as philanthropist Larry Crandell, Sr. and KEYT senior reporter John Palminteri. AKSB will also employ social media including Facebook and Twitter for online fundraising and sponsorship opportunities leading up to the event, and donations can be made at http://aksb.givezooks.com. Video interviews have been posted on YouTube, click here to view.

AKSB is in dire need of funds since mid-2007 when they lost their “dojo” (training hall) on lower State Street after the rent increased by more than 5 times forcing the dojo to close its doors. The creation of the State Street dojo was a community effort, led by Lia Suzuki, the founder and Sensei (teacher) of AKSB.  During the five years that the group was at that location, they hosted high-ranking Aikido practitioners from Japan, Canada, and Australia, conducting international seminars and giving demonstrations for the public. They also participated in outreach programs within the community, giving conflict/resolution seminars at facilities such as La Morada Women’s Jail in Goleta and at events like the Sober Women & Healthy Families Conference, organized by the Santa Barbara Drug and Alcohol Commission.

After regrouping, the members came together in temporary spaces – first at the Veterans’ Memorial Building and later at the Santa Barbara Buddhist Temple, where they are currently housed. They became a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit public benefit organization in early 2009 and formed an advisory council which includes Larry Crandell, Sr., Jim Wolfe and Chris Chirgwin. One of the newest additions to the Board of Directors is Santa Barbara Councilmember Das Williams. When asked why he joined AKSB’s Board Mr. Williams said, “I believe that the activities that we offer as a community for young people are one of the things that determine the future of those young people,” he continued “anything that keeps our kids off the streets is a good thing, and Aikido teaches them discipline, hard work, confidence and reflection.” See more of Mr. Williams interview here

One of the first projects AKSB launched was its youth sponsorship program – an initiative to find donors and benefactors from within the community to provide sliding scale and sponsored memberships for youth who would not otherwise be able to join the school. So far, nearly half of the members of the children’s class are receiving full to partial sponsorship. Word has spread of the fun, but disciplined classes and strong community focus of the group, the result being that the full classes have become too large for the space.

• Date: Tuesday, September 21
• Time: 5:30 – 7:30
• Location:
  • Santa Barbara Buddhist Temple
  • 1015 East Montecito Street
  • Santa Barbara, CA 93103

The goal of AKSB is to once again have a dedicated training space, take field trips to Japan, and hold events to benefit the community through the art of Aikido – the Art of Peace.

For more information about the Fall-A-Thon, to make a donation or to sponsor a participant, please visit http://aksb.givezooks.com.  To view video interviews of the children and adults, click here.

To arrange an interview with Sensei Lia Suzuki or to donate goods or services for the silent auction, please contact Joni Kelly (PR Chair) at 805-886-1869, jonirod2@aol.com or Eve Konstantine (Committee Chair) at 805-870-5437, Fall-A-Thon@aksb.org.

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