About Us
a look inside our organization
A Message from the Founder
Hello my name is Andrew Lazouras, Founder and CEO of Kicking for Causes. I want to thank you for visiting us online and for exploring the endless possibilities of making breakthroughs. Our community based programs reflect the true passion of martial arts, combined with the desire to help others and educate the world. At Kicking for Causes, we are dedicated to helping you reach your goals through creative fundraising solutions and education. What started as a small studio fundraiser, has now morphed into a community where we have raised over $200,000 for those in need and helped train thousands of individuals in both leadership development and martial arts seminars.
It is every person’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what they take out of it.
– Albert Einstein
If you have a noble cause worth fundraising for, or you are interested in team building, leadership development or self-defense clinics; then please reach out to us to see how we can make your dreams fun, engaging and easy to accomplish. Whether you are a business professional or a karate student, we have something for you and your journey. Thank you again for your support and we look forward to partnering with you and your community.
Yours Respectfully,
Andrew P. Lazouras, “Mr. L”
CEO & Founder at Kicking for Causes
Our Mission
Kicking for Causes is a Non-Profit Public Charity (501c3) built on the concept of helping others through education and fundraising campaigns. Combining the passion and inspiration derived from martial arts curriculum, Kicking for Causes provides opportunities for participants to successfully accomplish their fundraising or training goals. Whether you are looking to raise money for an important cause or you are looking to hold an exciting and educational seminar, Kicking for Causes can help you make breakthroughs in your life and in the lives of others.
Frequently Asked Questions
For answers for any questions see the list of frequently asked questions below for answers. Should you not be able to find you answer, please feel free to contact us directly.
Yes, Kicking for Causes is a tax-exempt 501C3 non-profit organization recognized by the federal government. What does that mean? Well, that basically means your donations go even further, making even bigger impacts and breakthroughs, all while serving as a benefit to you during tax season as a legitimate deduction. It also means that our first priority is helping others, not making a profit or focusing on the wrong things.
Not at all! In fact, most of our trainings and seminars are for first time students, children and business professionals. All of our trainings are catered directly to your abilities and needs; yet they are fun, educational and challenging. Karate students do have a strong passion for philanthropy and many studios partner with us to help make even greater impacts. We work with all people from ages 4 through Adult, and can custom make a fundraiser or seminar for you.
Over 80% of all donations through fundraisers go directly to the organization or charity of your choice. A small portion is dedicated to the expenses of running these fundraisers including the cost of materials, talent and other important resources. The other 10% goes into what we call the Kicking for Causes Savings Fund. This allows us to plan for future events and help those in need while also saving for important future goals such as scholarship funding.
For further information or to donate yourself, have a look at our donations page
Our first event in 2012 was for cancer research and we thought through a local studio that we might raise a few hundred dollars. We challenged karate students at one studio to get sponsorships to break boards and kick cancer’s butt. Well, a few hundred turned into several thousand and we quickly realized the potential of combining people’s talents and passions with giving back to the world. We made fundraising fun, not a chore. Families saw the impact and benefit of teaching children the importance of having a worldly view and the heart of a philanthropist. Our colors, grey and purple, reflect the first founding events purpose and the compassion we share for those in need.
For a list of past partners and those who we have helped, please visit our Success Stories and Friends page.
We can custom make fundraisers for you based on your own needs and goals, but some already fun and effective programs include Board Break-a-thons and Kick-a-thons, self-defense clinics and personal training boot camps, and public speaking engagements on leadership and team building.