USAT Partners With Quilts for Kids

USA Taekwondo has partnered with Quilts for Kids, Inc., a non-profit organization with over 50 chapters of dedicated volunteer quilters, whose hand-made patchwork quilts have been distributed to tens of thousands of children with life-threatening illnesses and children of abuse. 

According to Linda Arye, founder of Quilts for Kids, there are approximately six million seriously ill children hospitalized in the U.S. at any given time. The children are often prohibited from bringing in their favorite stuffed animal or blanket from home, due to allergen issues. Arye says, ”Our quilts are allowed because they can be washed daily so there are no allergen issues. The quilts become their source of comfort during a very frightening time. Through repeated chemotherapies and surgeries, the children have something they can hold and treasure hopefully for many, many years.”

Steven Thompson is the director of membership and brand development for USA Taekwondo. He learned that in addition to comforting the children, the program has prevented tons of discontinued fabric from ending up in landfills. Instead of discarding the material, manufacturers donate it to Quilts for Kids. “Many of those fabric companies have moved overseas so Quilts for Kids now has to purchase the large majority of their material to make the quilts,” says Thompson. “We have a national base of schools and athletes who can help.” 

Taekwondo is the world’s most popular martial art. As the organizing body for Olympic Taekwondo, USA Taekwondo is in the unique position to bring a national affiliation of martial arts schools and students together around a common cause. “Our mission is to develop Olympic athletes,” says USA Taekwondo Director of Events Mark Kaufmann. “Through the process of training and competing, our athletes gain skills and values that will make them better community and business leaders. This includes the importance of giving to others.”          

USA Taekwondo recently held their Junior Olympics and National Championships in Orlando, Fla. While at the event, Quilts for Kids provided quilts to two families with children who have cancer. Before leaving town, Quilts for Kids donated roughly 100 quilts to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando in the name of USA Taekwondo. A picture of the young athletes accompanied the quilts. 

In the coming weeks, USA Taekwondo will inform all of their members that Quilts for Kids is available to send a quilt to any of their friends or family members in need. They can even request a special martial arts pattern. USA Taekwondo and Quilts for Kids will have reciprocal links on their websites. In the future, USAT plans to organize a fundraising and awareness building event or series of events together with its member clubs and state associations to benefit the efforts of Quilts for Kids.

“We are thrilled to have USA Taekwondo join our corporate partners, P&G’s Downy brand, The Company Store’s Company Kids, and Robert Kaufman Fabric who produces a line of fabric to benefit the charity,” says Arye. “What I love about this is that it is kids helping kids. We can’t give medals, but the USA Taekwondo members will treasure the smiles they help to create for a long time.”    

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