empowering the youth
“I believe the future lies in the hands of our youth. I am passionate about youth and giving them experiences to open their minds. My personal journey of the passing of my twin brother accelerated my desire to give back. My brother had a gift with children; he was so patient in guiding them and at the same time playful. In his honor I give back to youth through the Korponai KIDS Foundation, by providing experiences for them through leadership programs.”
— Karen Korponai
KORPONAI KIDS FOUNDATION | TONY ROBBINS GLOBAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT (GYLS)
““Karen was an incredibly strong and empathetic leader throughout the GYLS program. She faced every road bump with a lot of resourcefulness and flexibility, and she always made sure all our voices were heard as participants in the program. She sought to bring out the best in each and every one of us, and she made us feel seen and made us aware of our potential. She is one of the leaders empowering youth that I most look up to today.”
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“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” —Franklin D. Roosevelt
Inspired by the passing of Karen’s twin brother in 2014, the Korponai KIDS Foundation was created to support and empower youth through leadership activities. We leverage existing entrepreneurial, sport or leadership programs and then we identify youth and give them the opportunity, through funding and logistical support, to attend these programs. We believe in the ripple effect and every youth we touch will then motivate and inspire others.
In 2015, the Korponai KIDS Foundation raised funds and supported sending 30 teens from 14 countries (11 in Africa) to the Global Youth Leadership Summit (GYLS) organized by the Anthony Robbins Foundation. Sponsors included Akon Lighting Africa, Solektra, Voyaj, and Royal Air Morocco, amongst others. To date the Korponai KIDS Foundation has sent over 100 teenagers to GYLS. The most recent partnership was with the Sports Leadership and Management (SLAM) charter school in Miami supported by American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and entrepreneur, Pitbull. The Korponai KIDS Foundation supported fund-raising and logistics to send 10 teens from SLAM to GYLS. Stay tuned for more Korponai KIDS Foundation activities around the world.
“RIGHT TO ROCK” FUNDRAISER ORGANIZED
BY LITTLE KIDS ROCK
As Chief Marketing Officer at the House of Marley, Karen initiated a partnership between 1Love.org, House of Marley and Little Kids Rock. As a result of Karen’s efforts and the partnership, House of Marley became one of the sponsors of Little Kids Rock’s “Right to Rock” fundraiser concert in New York in October of 2012 to celebrate 10 years of bringing music to kids across the U.S. The concert featured Little Kid Rock children alongside Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, Jake Clemons and other artists who performed in front of a packed Manhattan Ballroom and rocked the house like pros. The event raised over US$800,000 through ticket sales and live and silent auctions. Little Kids Rock was then able to provide free instruments and music lessons to more than 100,000 disadvantaged public school students in 12 states across the U.S.
CONCERT WITH MISHKA AT LUMERIA MAUI
BENEFITING PA’IA YOUTH CENTER
In 2013, while working at Lumeria Maui, a luxury boutique hotel and educational retreat center, Karen organized an intimate acoustic evening and talk story about Maui based, rising reggae star Mishka, his songwriting and musical career. The exclusive event included a gourmet, farm-to-table three course meal and a musical concert by Mishka with all proceeds benefiting the Pa’ia Youth and Cultural Center. Over US$100k was raised.
The Pa’ia Youth & Cultural Center (PYCC) is a non-profit organization funded by grants, community donations and private foundations. The PYCC mission is to provide a safe place emotionally and physically for the youth of Pa'ia and surrounding communities by offering a variety of social, educational, cultural, vocational, and recreational activities.The PYCC is guided by its Hawaiian values…Lokahi (unity), ʻOhana (family), Aloha (love & compassion), Kuleana (responsibility), Malama (to care for), Laulima (cooperation), Haʻahaʻa (humility), Naʻau Pono (upright & just), Le'a Le'a: (To have a good time), and Makaʻala (To be aware; alert).
Musician Mishka is a traveler and a sailor at heart, raised in the Caribbean. A free spirit, whose message of love, social justice and consciousness are core to his songs.
BEST BUDDIES CHARITY EVENT SUPPORTING YOUTH
WITH DISABILITIES
Karen’s passion for supporting children has followed her throughout her life. In the summer of 2013 on the plane ride over to Maui to embark on a hotel consulting project at Lumeria, Karen met a student and the State Director from Best Buddies Hawaii, Michael McCormick. By September, Karen and Michael partnered and created a therapeutic experiential event for Best Buddies Hawaii (BBHI) high school student members with and without disabilities. The event, hosted at Lumeria, was a success and was featured on the front page of The Maui News.
The Lumeria Maui retreat center and hotel opened its doors to over 40 Best Buddies Maui attendees. They participated in a free, private yoga class led by Skeeter Tichnor. Yoga has been shown by researchers to reduce aggressive behavior, social withdrawal and hyperactivity in children with special needs. During the yoga class they experienced the healing and calming benefits of live music. After yoga, the group experienced the health benefits of essential oils and they had the opportunity to sample chef Craig Kings organic juices.
The Maui County High School and Middle School Best Buddies Project serves almost 400 students aged 12-21 at six schools in Maui County. The program provides valuable support to youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) by matching students with IDD in one-to-one friendships with their non-disabled peers. Friendships formed through Best Buddies combat isolation and provide opportunities for leadership.
YOGA FUNDRAISER FOR THE MILAGRO CENTER
SUPPORTING AT RISK CHILDREN
In 2009, after completing a leadership program, Karen was inspired to organize a yoga charity event to raise money for disadvantaged children from the Milagro Center in Delray Beach, Florida. For the event, Karen enrolled 10 yoga studios and other local businesses to participate by donating raffle prizes or encouraging people to attend a free yoga class at a Delray Beach park with live music. Over $3,000 was raised through the sale of raffle tickets and the grand prize was a one week trip for two to swim with wild dolphins off of Bimini Island.
The Milagro Center is a non-profit agency whose mission is to enrich children’s lives through cultural arts, academic support and living values, benefiting both the children served and their families as well as the community. The Center houses art exhibits, outreach programs, a mentoring program and after school and summer camp programs for disadvantaged children and families living at or below the federal poverty level in South Florida. The center serves 40-50 elementary school-aged children and over 20 teens on-site daily.