Hi everyone!
If you’ve been around the Studio lately you have seen the excitement building – we are poised for a great night on December 4th for the Tulen Foundation 7th Annual Holiday Auction and Indonesian Dinner. Our goal is a 100% turnout of ALL Naga students – help us make it happen! Click here to view the invite and to RSVP!
Some of the great items we have up for auction this year are dinner for two at Chez Panisse, original Pixar “Cars 2″ artwork, a whale watching tour, symphony and theater tickets and much, much more!
The bid sheets have started to appear – and bidding HAS started – but in the flurry of activity we want to remind everyone why we have the auction. (Aside from having lots of fun, a tasty dinner, an awesome demo, and swell company!) ALL the funds raised go directly to those unable to afford tuition, in addition to stoking the coffers for our Tulen College Awards. Now in their second year, these college scholarships are a big part of our kid’s program – and here’s why:
Ten years ago while in grade school, Amber and Ethan began studying martial arts at Studio Naga. After several years they earned black belts in a 48-hour test, then trained and taught younger kids throughout high school. These two cool and confident teens committed to health, wellness, and the betterment of themselves and others. Both on and off the training floor, they became positive, influential role models – to kids and adults alike.
As they prepared for college, our community raised funds to show these extraordinary young people our admiration – and to inspire those coming up behind them to make similar community-minded, healthy life choices.
Thus began our Tulen Foundation College Awards: $500 grants awarded to black belt college-bound teens who demonstrate outstanding leadership and an ongoing connection to the Tulen community. Amber and Ethan will be home from their junior and sophomore years of college soon – and they’ll be testing for Pendekkar over the first three days of January. (Save the date!)
Kids today are challenged to avoid the pitfalls of drugs, alcohol, violence and gangs. Studio Naga has had remarkable success with guiding kids to make good choices: out of our first class in 2002, over half are still training. That’s ten years of commitment, growth and change! Like Amber and Ethan, these kids show that martial artists are determined, disciplined, confident, compassionate leaders.
4 out of 5 of these kids are still training!
Currently we have a new cohort of multicultural teens just stepping into roles as leaders and approaching college. Each time we support a young person to become the best they can be, the impact of that success ripples out to other teens, to families, and the world we share.
I hope you’ll be there on December 4th, or if you can’t, will consider making a tax-deductible donation to the fund. And thank you! As we approach this season of sharing, we at the Studio are grateful for your support, for your help in building a better future.
"Goeroe Cid" and "Mas Louse at "Georoe-for-a-Day"!
Save the date: The Pendekkar/black-belt test will be an all-school, completely open three days of training and renewal starting Sunday, January 1st. Watch for more on that soon!
And please watch the board for the (reduced) holiday schedule! The school will be closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s, but there will be classes on the Saturdays of Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
xoxo
-Goeroe Louise
