Creating a World Where Actions Meet Intentions, World Hwa Rang Do Association Chooses Humanitarian Work Over Profit
While martial arts organizations today focus increasingly on combat sports and profits, one group is shifting its efforts towards serving those in need. The World Hwa Rang Do Association, headquartered in Tustin, CA, has reformed its tax status to further global humanitarian efforts.
In the fall of 2011, the World Hwa Rang Do Association applied for 501c3 not-for-profit tax status. “Our desire to expand our humanitarian work around the globe led to the change,” said Grandmaster Taejoon Lee, President of the World Hwa Rang Do Association.
Hwa Rang Do differentiates itself from other martial arts by developing leaders with a strong sense of social justice. “We want our members to live in a way that their actions meet their intentions. Too many people live a life with good intentions, but don’t have the discipline to take action to see things through,” said Lee. According to Public Relations Director Fernando Ceballos, Hwa Rang Do’s vision of “seeking truth, empowering lives, and serving humanity” attracts business and community leaders who value the traditions of loyalty and service that martial training embodies.
Hwa Rang Do’s charitable efforts to date include fundraising for organizations including Saint Jude Children’s Hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Juvenile Diabetes Association, plus an international humanitarian trip. In August of 2009, a team from Hwa Rang Do’s Italian Branch went to Angola to work with the children of Lixeira, a city built entirely on top of a garbage dump. The poorest of the poor in the world live there. The trash surrounding them serves as their source for supplies, tools, food, and regrettably even water. This operation marked the beginning of a broader mission by the World Hwa Rang Do Association to bring the gift of self-empowerment to those with the greatest needs.
Hwa Rang Do knows that many hands make light work. They are interested in partnering with other non-profits to assist in serving humanitarian needs. If you would like to get involved philanthropically or are a non-profit organization interested in partnering with them, they would love to hear from you.
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If you would like more information about Hwa Rang Do’s humanitarian efforts, contact Public Relations Director Fernando Ceballos at 310-472-6233 or fernando@hwarangdo.net. For more information about Hwa Rang Do, visit www.hwarangdo.net.