Back to our beginning

There is nothing like the energy of a room when people are infected with the spirit of giving. It brings me back to that first day with that group of kids in Missouri who made the birth of HALO possible, and I am astonished.

Events are simultaneously exhausting and energizing. They have made HALO possible. As we strive to become a more sustainable organization with initiatives like HALO Hero and HALO Alliance (our monthly giving campaigns), we still rely on events to raise funding, awareness and give us that strong sense of hope.

HALO started with a determined group of kids from a karate school in Missouri who hosted a Boardbreakathon, raising enough money to send an orphanage of children to school. There was something magical in the air that day that the HALO light bulb switched on.

Saturday was our 5th Boardbreakathon. Last year, the karate schools were not able to do the event because students could hardly pay their monthly dues to keep the school doors open.

This year,  although attendance was down from two years ago, participants' spirits were soaring. With every board smash, the energy of hope in the air became stronger.  The Boardbreakathon made a comeback and people were more thrilled than ever to be helping children in need.


This event was infected with the spirit of giving. The students and instructors were not focused on the fact that they have been dealing with challenging times. They were focused on the footprint they leave in this world, the small changes they can make, even if it is just one small change.

It brought me back to that first Boardbreakathon, when we didn't know what HALO was going to be but we knew it was going to be powerful. Their spirit of giving brought change, impact, overcame challenges, multiplied, became contagious, and literally altered the path of hundreds of children's lives that were at stake. 

We must remember that spirit and strive for it at every day by effectively communicating the need of children around the world.

If you would like more information about HALO, please email halo@haloworldwide.org.