The mission of the Future Leaders Foundation is to develop leadership qualities in our children at an early age. Using martial arts as a vehicle, this program will develop strong will, strength in character, and the tools that are necessary to combat negative influences and drug related peer pressures.

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The Future Leaders Foundation recognizes that the social problems in our communities, such as drug and alcohol abuse, youth violence, and racial conflict are staggering. The problems in our youth community are pervasive and are not limited to children growing up in undesirable circumstances. The basic "normal" needs of growing children, facing a confusing and often demanding adult world, even in strong family homes, beg for reassurance of self worth. Moreover, studies show a current trend toward the disintegration of the family, resulting in little or no family structure or values.

Many of our children are conditioned for failure, and failure becomes an accepted way of living with little or no value for life itself. Often the "at-risk" child will be lost in the early stages of his or her formal education, unless strong and clearly designed support programs are implemented. Also, positive role models for a child's development of strength of character and self esteem are a necessity.

The problems in our community cross all socio-economic lines and require thoroughly tested and proven remedies which are on-going and offered to the general population of children.

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The Future Leaders Foundation believes that every child should have the opportunity to train traditional Martial Arts. Our direction is one of prevention rather than cure. The Future Leaders Foundation has chosen the Elementary School environment as the most pertinent to a child's development. That is, we have chosen a familiar environment where the children can easily learn and transfer the benefits of the martial arts program directly into other life activities.

Popularity and respect for Martial Arts among youth and the recognition of its potential by educators and parents continues to grow nationwide. After school enrichment programs and special class offerings often include training in the Martial Arts because of the positive effects that such training has on students generally, and on "at-risk" youth specifically. With the knowledge and with the cumulative experience of Master Straga's Karate Academy, the most effective and highest quality instruction will be offered to the children, then teachers, other faculty members, administrators as well as parents, in an appealing and exciting program.

The Future Leaders Foundation is well prepared to meet the demands of children in our community who are in need of this aggressive and positive approach to our burgeoning social problems.

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Through martial arts principles and philosophies, the Future Leaders Foundation will provide a structured, goal oriented, educational, and highly motivating martial arts program to our children. They will learn to set goals and work hard to achieve them. Each new belt level, from their first color belt, to achievement of first degree black belt status, will provide incentive and reward, thereby developing determination and confidence.

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Camaraderie established among peers will break all barriers of race, gender and age, providing a true sense of pride and belonging. Future Leaders Foundation students will train together as family, creating a harmonious environment in which each student earns respect and acceptance through his or her efforts.

• parents, teachers and authority
  
• established rules and regulations
  
• one's own life
  

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The Future Leaders Foundation will develop, through an educational and highly motivating martial arts training program, tools early on in a child's life that will be at the child's disposal throughout the trying years to come. These tools are:

• healthy mind and body
• positive attitude
• discipline
• concentration
• focus
• self esteem

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• self conviction
• leadership
• good character
• strong will
• peace of mind
• self-reliance

The rewards of the training will include respect for authority, improved concentration and behavior in and out of the class room with noticeable improvement in school attendance and academic performance.

The Future Leaders Foundation program will function as a part of the established school curriculum for physical education. The Foundation will introduce martial arts, and provide a three year program to the children of grade levels K through 4th.

The classes will be conducted in a room within, or immediately adjacent to, the participating Elementary School and devoted to martial arts training. Of the 150 minutes required weekly by the New Jersey State Core Curriculum Standards for Physical Education, we will provide 90 minutes of instruction.

All students must attend 2 training sessions per week throughout each school year for three consecutive years. We will serve 120 children at any one time by providing instruction for 8 groups of children, 4 groups each day, 2 days per week, and the fifth day the instructor will be available for makeup classes, and for conferences with teachers, students, parents, or administrators. A waiting list will be established to replace any children not able to maintain their commitment.

The Future Leaders Foundation program cost is $615.00 per child, annually. The Future Leaders Foundation will work with the school system to provide necessary funding.

After school and summer school programs will be available to family, faculty and students of all ages. Additionally, demonstrations, workshops, testing and tournaments will be offered through the Future Leaders Foundation.

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The Administrative Director of the program will communicate regularly with school superintendents, principles, teachers and Future Leaders Foundation instructors. From the inception of the program, and running continuously throughout the program, there will be a study to track behavior and academic progress of students participating in the Future Leaders Foundation program.

The Future Leaders Foundation will encourage parents to support their children by attending program activities as well as training in martial arts. Parents training with their children has proven to bridge the generation gap, strengthen bonds, and develop pride within the family unit.

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Atlantic County, New Jersey has been selected as the primary focus for the initial phase of the program with the goal of establishing programs in elementary schools in each of the County's 19 cities.

Our first concern is to implement Future Leaders Foundation programs strongly within our community. There will be special attention to developing the best possible curriculum for students at each school, and most importantly there will be patience and caution when determining steps for expansion.

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Master D. Straga, a sixth degree Black Belt, has trained under some of the greatest Tang Soo Do Masters in the world. Master Straga began teaching Martial Arts in the Atlantic County area in 1977. Having taught thousands of students, producing Masters and hundreds of Black Belts, today Master Straga's Tang Soo Do Academy is one of the largest and most successful in the nation. He is highly respected for his dedication, character, honor and technical abilities. Additionally, his leadership qualities and teaching abilities have had a positive influences on the lives of children and adults in our community.

Furthermore, Master Straga has chaired and co-chaired many fund raising events during the past twenty years through annual, national karate tournament and demonstrations which benefit the American Cancer Society, Muscular Dystrophy and various New Jersey Police Departments.

Master Straga's goal since 1994 has been to form a Foundation that would enable him and his Black Belts to reach the children in our community on a much broader scale. Thus the Future Leaders Foundation was formed in 1995, incorporated, May 24, 1996, and received its 501 (c) (3) tax exempt status on November 4, 1996.

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The Future Leaders Foundation is comprised of men and women who are dedicated martial artists with the Foundation mission at heart. They are also leaders in the academy, business world, Atlantic County community.

1. Chairman

2. Trustees

Deborah Wehrhan, 5th Dan
Elaine Orsi, 4th Dan
John Van Epps, 2nd Dan

3. Advisory Board

Mr. Paul Chila, Principal
Dr. Joy Miller, Asst. Superintendent
Mr. Robert Garguilo, Superintendentl
Mr. Kenneth Moore, Principal
Reverend Brian Roberts, MDIV, MBA, Pastor
Dr. Joseph Mosley, Psychologist
Mr. Dennis Duffy, Civil Engineer
Mr. Rick Baehrle, Pres.,CEO, Vanguard Property
Mr. Marc Laguardia, Bank Examiner
Mrs. Janet Festa, Teacher

The Kligerman Foundation, Inc.
Asian World of Martial Arts, Inc.
Weinstein Supply, Inc.
C&B Webs
McDonalds, Corp.
Tang Soo Karate Academy
David and Joan Kligerman
Laurence Kligerman
Cindy Lou Owen, MSW
Neil Stackhouse

Other generous individuals wishing to remain anonymous

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