2019 Highlight & Towards The Future
Dear Difference Maker,
Welcome to KAMS Foundation’s Newsletter. First and foremost, we hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. This past year, 2019, has been full of excitement, blessings and empowerment and we want to take the opportunity to share some of KAMS’ highlights with all of you. We also want to keep you informed of future endeavors and program development as well as opportunities for KAMS to help out during this time. To begin, on behalf of the KAMS Foundation’s Board and Foundation Team, I want to thank you for being a KAMS supporter! We appreciate you and value your dedication to being a difference maker. We hope you will continue to stay connected as we strive to build on our Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) and empower youth to excel in the game of life.
Debbie Beck-Siddiqui, President and Co-Founder
KAMS Works with Local Organizations to Provide Youth Empowerment Programs
KAMS had an amazing year completing the first contracted YEP with the Chino Valley Unified School District and the City of Chino for the 2018-2019 school year. We were fortunate to renew a contract for the 2019-2020 school year with both entities. A total of 21 YEPs were conducted to round out the 2019 calendar year.
KAMS’ YEPs are making a difference in children’s lives; enriching their character development, and life skills and more importantly increasing their self-esteem through sports, SEL based activities, affirmation activities, and our affirmation soccer ball initiative.
isit https://www.kamsfoundation.org for testimonials highlighting the impact the YEPs have on the amazing youth.
KAMS Receives Community Partner Award
KAMS received the Community Partner Award for our “dedication, commitment and extraordinary service to the City of Chino”. We were honored to be recognized for our amazing, impactful partnership with the City of Chino.
KAMS goes international
KAMS in pakistan
KAMS executed its first International Program in Pakistan in 2019. Several Siddiqui family members traveled to Pakistan to join other family members who reside there, for the grand opening of TCF’s Kamran Siddiqui Campus.
Kamran’s uncle and aunt (Naim and Anjum Siddiqui) generously provided the funds to build and maintain this school through the joint efforts of TCF in memory of Kamran Siddiqui.
While there, a team of KAMS’ Volunteers conducted three YEPs. The first program was conducted at Jawwad School. KAMS was introduced to this school through a contact at the Robin Hood Army organization. The Robin Hood Army is a volunteer based, zero-funds organization that works to get surplus food from restaurants and the community to serve less fortunate people.
Their vision is to beat global hunger and bring out the best of humanity using food as a medium. KAMS was fortunate to be introduced to the amazing staff at Jawwad School. The youth at Jawwad School came to school on a Sunday to participate in KAMS’ YEP.
Two additional programs were conducted at S. S. Educational Trust school, which is a school that the Siddiqui family in Pakistan supports. S. S. Educational Trust’s endeavor is poised to provide quality education. Their aim is to arm young brains with competitive skills and technology and nurture development of the aspirants for an advantageous tomorrow.
KAMS also donated soccer balls to each of these schools and provided 300 meals to the students who attended the S. S. Educational Trust school.
In conducting our first International programs; the thing that stood out to me the most was that children are children across the world….and they are ALL unique, creative, precious creations who need to be affirmed for who THEY were created to be. Since I do not speak the language; I was able to act as an “observer” while other KAMS’ volunteers executed one of our Affirmation Activities….this was a peer to peer affirmation activity where we end the activity by conducting an “Affirmation Shout Out” in front of the entire group. This consists of reading the positive affirmations that were written for each individual by their teammates. It was amazing to see, in less than 30 seconds, the POWER speaking affirming, uplifting positive words over a precious child, has on their demeanor, emotions, and feelings.
Debbie Beck-Siddiqui, KAMS Founder and President
KAMS in guatemala
Summer of 2019, KAMS donated Affirmation Soccer Balls to Inland Hills Church’s global outreach mission trip to Guatemala. The Guatemala team enjoyed playing soccer with the children in several villages and donated Affirmation Balls to the youth. KAMS’ goal is that these Affirmation Balls will continue to remind these children how special they are and that they are loved!
KAMS’ Scholarship Program is Implemented
Research shows a child’s involvement in sports helps them to increase and improve their social interaction, increase their confidence, and improve their teamwork skills, listening skills and overall health. Participation in sports has been linked in studies to higher grades, lower dropout rates and lower crime rates.
The evidence supporting sports participation for young people is overwhelming…It has the power to combat everything from racism to low self-image, to the high-school drop-out rate.
Sue Castle, Executive Producer of PBSSports: Get in the Game
Through KAMS’ Scholarship Program we will offer scholarship opportunities to youth as we identify those who are well suited for competitive sports, or are already involved in competitive sports, but could use some financial assistance in that area.
Our first scholarship recipient was Lance Ward. Lance is a young man who donates his time to volunteer in our Youth Empowerment Program. Lance performs a “soccer freestyle” demonstration for the children and he is always a big hit. Lance has played on many school, club and even international teams. He has also competed in the USA Cup, USA Peace Cup (China), and the AYSO National Games (Hawaii). Lance is also a member of the famed Futboleros. Futboleros are a unique and innovative Soccer Entertainment Company that offers Professional Soccer services. Known to many as the Harlem Globetrotters of soccer, Futboleros are comprised of highly professional skilled freestylers who perform amazing choreographed soccer shows.
Sue Castle, Executive Producer of PBSSports: Get in the Game
Through KAMS’ Scholarship Program we will offer scholarship opportunities to youth as we identify those who are well suited for competitive sports, or are already involved in competitive sports, but could use some financial assistance in that area.
Our first scholarship recipient was Lance Ward. Lance is a young man who donates his time to volunteer in our Youth Empowerment Program. Lance performs a “soccer freestyle” demonstration for the children and he is always a big hit. Lance has played on many school, club and even international teams. He has also competed in the USA Cup, USA Peace Cup (China), and the AYSO National Games (Hawaii). Lance is also a member of the famed Futboleros. Futboleros are a unique and innovative Soccer Entertainment Company that offers Professional Soccer services. Known to many as the Harlem Globetrotters of soccer, Futboleros are comprised of highly professional skilled freestylers who perform amazing choreographed soccer shows.
KAMS inspires me to help make a difference in this world –
one kid at a time.Lance Ward, KAMS Volunteer
Summer Camps Bring Great Opportunities for YEPs
Summer Camps continue to be a great activity for KAMS Foundation. KAMS conducted four YEPs in partnership with the City of Chino and the City of Rialto this past summer. These YEPs run a half day and continue to give KAMS an opportunity to reach more youth with our four core values: AFFIRMATION, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, LIFE SKILLS, & MENTORSHIP.
KAMS Charity Golf Tournament
KAMS hosted its first charity golf tournament at Western Hill Country Club in November 2019. This event was very successful thanks to the leadership of our Co-Chairmen, Peggy Tupac and Andrew Wallace, and over 45 KAMS volunteers. KAMS welcomed guest speakers Tammy Dawson, Community Services Coordinator | City of Chino and
Terri Trembly, Program Manager-After School Programs |CVUSD, during the evening festivities. They spoke to the positive impact that they have seen through KAMS’ Youth Empowerment Program on the youth in their respective venues.
The tournament had over 120 golfers registered and first place went to:
Dave Franzoni, Ross Martinez, Rich Neeley, and John Johnston.
The participants, volunteers, and our generous sponsors and tee sponsors helped us raise $17,996, which will be used to continue KAMS Foundation’s mission to empower youth to excel in the game life.
Thank you to our amazing interns and volunteers who helped at the tournament and who continuously dedicate their time and love into KAMS’ programs and events. You inspire so many!
Our interns and volunteers do this to help and serve others…they do it to make a difference: they are “Difference Makers”. They don’t volunteer to benefit themselves; however, volunteering does have the ability to benefit the volunteer.
KAMS Partners with P&P Imports to Distribute Affirmation Balls to Foster Children
During this time of year, KAMS would normally be busy finishing up YEP programs and planning for our summer programs. Due to the current COVID-19 global crisis, KAMS has looked to find other opportunities to make an impact on youth. Thankfully, we have found a way to expand our Affirmation Ball Initiative by partnering with P&P Imports, a leading sporting goods and outdoor games enterprise with more than 600 fun-in-the-sun recreational products ( pandpimports.com ). P&P Imports has donated 250 soccer balls for KAMS’ Affirmation Ball Initiative.
KAMS volunteers have stepped up to implement affirmation words and phrases on these soccer balls in order to provide hope and encouragement to foster children.
KAMS is working with a local organization, Sunshine Family Services, to provide these affirmation soccer balls to 250 foster children.
KAMS’ curriculum is based on SEL, which includes the impact of increasing the foundation of your belief systems. The affirmation ball initiative aims to provide positive affirmations on a soccer ball which is then given to a youth participant. These soccer balls aim to act as a reminder to youth of their worth.
AFFIRMATION
Affirmations are a powerful tool of building a positive mind within a child, bringing self-confidence into their belief system, so that if their belief is challenged, the affirmation defeats the challenge.
