Cassidy Mazzeo

Cassidy Mazzeo's Fundraiser

Spread the word to end violence image

Spread the word to end violence

This fundraiser helps the people who aren't well off learn the necessary skills to end violence and help create a better world.

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$3,660 towards $2,500

Hello, my name is Charles Thomas Mazzeo, and I am here to to talk to you about the annual Thousand Waves fundraiser and physical event. The Spirit Challenge.

I have been a student Thousand Waves since 2008, and have recently earned my 2nd degree Jr Black Belt. My father, Michael J. Mazzeo (pictured above) is also the Treasurer of the Thousand Waves Board of Directors.

For those who do not know, Thousand Waves is a mission-driven not-for-profit in the city of Chicago that has been active in the community for over 32 years with a mission to foster fitness, healing, empowerment, and peacemaking.

Spirit Challenge Fundraiser supports Thousand Waves' work in three critical areas:

  • Scholarships, which provide funding for children and adults who wouldn't otherwise be able to study karate or self-defense.
  • Adapted Seido Karate (ASK), a partnership with RIC that provides karate for youth with disabilities.
  • Self-Defense/Violence Prevention, which provides Self-defense and Bystander Intervention workshops and courses all over the city.
These are the programs you benefit by donating, but just knowing the facts isn't enough. So I'll give you some perspective on these programs.


1. Scholarships

The scholarship program provides children and adults who can't otherwise study karate.

Karate tuition can be around $100 a month. You might be able to pay for that, but what about that woman working at Subway, or that man working 10 hours a day barely able to support his family? What if they want to learn to defend their family? The most important thing we, the well off can do is help people change the world.


2. Adapted Seido Karate (ASK)
The ASK program adapts existing Seido syllabus and teaches it to people with mild to severe mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.
These people are the some of the strongest students I've ever taught. But, they have big challenges that come with their disabilities. None of them is Donald Trump wealthy, so most of their money goes to therapy, whereas that money could go to other things in non-disabled families. Children with disabilities are also one of the most subjected to bullying and mistreatment. Karate is not just about physical strength. It is about mental discipline, which can be used to help these children overcome their challenges.

3. Violence Prevention Programs
Thousand Waves representatives go to schools and host programs that teach people violence prevention and self defense.
This is one of Thousand Waves' most important contributions. Not everyone can go to karate, but everyone needs to help to end violence and protect themselves. This program provides that opportunity.

As demonstrated above, your donations will be helpful to the future of Thousand Waves and our mission to end violence and spread awareness.