My father, Rudolph Muhammad, founded Integrity Martial Arts Academy (formerly known as Kwanzaa Martial Arts Academy) with the intention of servicing and building a stronger community. From the age of 3, I watched him pour into the lives of countless individuals and families, unfocused on financial gain or external accolades. From our humble beginnings in the then Charlie Parker Academy, to our now current location in the Red Bridge Shopping Center, we have constantly evolved. When I was a kid, I remember watching my father do it all: teach classes, keep student records, manage finances and clean the facility! Over the years I have stepped into more of a leadership role in the business, and we have worked to elevate the professionalism of our program. Below are some of the developments we have made: Growth to servicing an average of 125 youth students monthly (Offering classes for students as young as 4) Renovation of nearly 6000 sq ft facility Hiring of 15 part-time employees Hiring of e2E, LLC (full service business management firm in finance, HR and marketing) Implementation of Community Service Arm (Projects we have supported: Paseo Stairs Clean Up, KC International Academy Food Pantry and School Supply Drive, MLK Service Day) Creation of extension program at Scuola Vita Nuova Charter School (Led by Sensei Joseph Muhammad) Awarded +$13,000 in post high school scholarships to college-bound students These developments have allowed us to envision the growth and sustainability of our program for years to come. However, this necessary growth has also come at a heightened financial cost. In order to serve our community for another +40 years, we are looking for support from those who have benefited from our works in the past. Our desire is to continue to find ways to give back to the community and postively impact as many families as possible. With your support, we can work towards achieving the following goals: Establish a marketing strategy to increase to serving 200 youth per month Hire an additional 5 employees Implement an annual training scholarship for local youth facing financial hardship Maintain the tradition of awarding post-high school scholarships to college-bound students Replace insufficient training equipment (bags and mitts) By God's grace, my father has established the longest-running black-owned martial arts school in Kansas City. This is without any formal business training or small business loan. We have continued to grow, while still maintaining the values and ethics established since our inception. My goal is to carry on this tradition and honor him and all of the community that has benefited from our program. This is not a handout. Please know that the intention of this fundraiser is to assist us in stepping into another level of service. We are for the community and now we are looking to the community to carry us forward. Any support you can provide, or attract, is greatly appreciated. No matter the amount. In community, David Muhammad
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