If you're a kid thinking about committing a crime, consider this: There's a 99.9 percent chance that Chuck Norris is already there waiting for you.
And he has a better plan for your life.
Chuck and Gena Norris told WND they are dedicated to giving middle-school students the tools and support necessary to resolve conflicts, avoid participating in gangs, choose a drug-free lifestyle, resist negative peer pressure, remain in school until they graduate, achieve a higher level of academic success and ultimately become productive members of America's communities.
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They make it all happen through their Kickstart Kids Foundation.
"Every morning our kids have affirmation, and that affirmation is that they can be anything that they want to be," Chuck Norris said in an interview with Houston's KTRK-TV. "School violence is cut drastically down, bullying, teen pregnancy, gang activity. Seeing that diminishing, it creates systemic change."
The Norrises were honored May 14 with "The Safe School Crime Stoppers Award" at Crime Stoppers' "Houston Heroes Awards Luncheon" for their work with Kickstart – a program that has spread to 51 schools across Texas.
Gina told WND, "This was a great event and such an honor to receive this award. Crime Stoppers does incredible work to keep our communities safe, and what KSK does to direct kids down the right path in life would change our world."
More than 7,500 students are currently involved with Kickstart, and 80,000 kids have graduated in the last 22 years.
In 1992, with the help of President George H.W. Bush, the program was launched in four public middle schools in Houston. For 22 years, Kickstart has developed and delivered an in-school physical education program based on martial arts that teaches responsibility and character development, while building self-esteem and engaging kids in a school-based activity.
"Come to one of our belt ceremonies and see these kids receive their upper-grade belt," Chuck said. "It's the most impressive thing you'll ever see.
But trained as they may be, the kids know they should never try anything so silly as to fight Chuck Norris.
After all, Superman once challenged Norris to a fight – and the loser had to wear his underwear on the outside.
The star of "Walker: Texas Ranger" and some of the biggest action pictures ever, Norris has also reached a new generation as part of the Internet craze for one-liners usually labeled not as jokes but as "facts." In "The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book," Norris gives readers not only his favorite "facts," roundhouse-kicked by the man himself, but also the stories behind the facts and the code by which he lives his life.
Norris has been writing a weekly column exclusively for WND since Oct. 23, 2006.
He is also a New York Times bestselling author of "Black Belt Patriotism."
Norris’ career began not in movies, television or in the world of Internet trivia. The man who has employed martial arts in so many of his pictures first came to the world’s attention as a real-life martial arts star. He was a six-time undefeated World Professional MiddleWeight Karate Champion. He was also a renowned teacher in the martial arts, with celebrity students including Steve McQueen, Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley and Donnie and Marie Osmond.
He has gone on to found the United Fighting Arts Federation with more than 2,300 black belts all over the world. In 1997, Norris achieved another milestone in his life by being the first man ever in the Western Hemisphere to be awarded an eighth-degree Black Belt Grand Master recognition in the Tae Kwon Do system. This was a first in 4,500 years of tradition.
The Norrises encourage Americans to support the positive impact Kickstart Kids is having on local communities.
"We need partners at all levels," Gina said. "We need them from the community level to corporate sponsors to make this happen."
As news of the Crimes Stoppers award spread, Americans shared their love for the Norrises on Facebook. The following are some of the comments:
- "So, are you running in 2016, Chuck? We need a good man in the White House!"
- "Mr. Norris has the right idea about America."
- "My kids were in Kickstart. It made a HUGE difference in their lives. My youngest wants to open his own school for karate to pass on what he learned. I am so proud of them. I have met Mr. Chuck Norris, and he is very nice."
- "In the name of all these children, THANKS and love to both of you, from a Belgian fan"
- "You're awesome! Thank you for everything you have done for our veterans"
- "Chuck Norris is awesomesauce"