Dear Friends,
In two weeks I am traveling to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to volunteer a week’s worth of capoeira lessons at the SuAnne Big Crow Boys & Girls Club. I am taking along two of my students and I am writing you to ask for the blessing of your support.
The travel expenses for our trip are $2,500. That covers air tickets, rental car, gasoline and meals for our weeklong offering August 19 – 26. I am reaching out to you that you may grace us with your generosity in a donation of $10, $20, $50 or whatever your budget will allow, so together we may serve these kids to the fullest of our potentials.
As you know I have been active in the African-Brazilian martial art capoeira since 1994. Through capoeira I was able to develop confidence, individuality, rhythm, cultural awareness, flow, mental/physical/spiritual strength and adaptability, perseverance and achievement. And beyond that the magic of empowering others where I am empowered.
“It is very important for the kids here to be exposed to as much of the outside world as possible.”– Leatrice “Chick” Big Crow, Executive Director, SuAnne Big Crow Boys & Girls Club
The Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota is the home to the Oglala Lakota Nation, the people of Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, and Olympic gold medal winner Billy Mills. It is a place with widespread material poverty, but with great spiritual wealth, natural beauty and hope for the future. The proud and beautiful Lakota people struggle every day to overcome the problems of unemployment, poverty, disease, grossly inadequate housing, alcoholism and drug abuse which have arisen as a result of their ignoble treatment over the past 150 years. (from www.suannebigcrow.org)
I first learned about The SuAnne Big Crow Boys & Girls Club in Denzel Washington’s book A Hand to Guide Me. Upon reading her story I immediately felt the urge to support SuAnne’s dream of improving life on the reservation. We intend to do that with the power of capoeira; a martial art born of and growing in adaptability, community, resistance, love and vision.
Please help us make the week of August 19 – 26 one of the most impactful and beneficial experiences in these Lakota kids' young lives. No matter how modest or gracious the gift of your donation, what the children will receive from it will truly be immeasurable.
Thanks for your time and consideration. And above all, thank you for being in my life!!
Donations can be sent to: Eric Aten P.O. Box 861203 Los Angeles, CA 90086
Feel free to contact me at: ankh9er@hotmail.com
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