The SKJAJA Fund

This local non-profit not only has a unique name, but also they have a unique business model that is based on not only giving, but also keeping that giving spirit going.

Eric and Charlotte White, who both grew up in Chapel Hill and now live in Carrboro, North Carolina, started the SKJAJA Fund in 2008 with a $200 gift from Eric’s sister. Eric’s sister, Kim, gave each of her family members money on her own birthday to “pay it forward.” They were asked to share with her what they did with the gifted money. To Kim, the best gift was hearing about how others were helped. “We really wanted to do something with the money that would keep going,” explains Charlotte. “And my husband Eric said, ‘Whatever it is, we need to call it SKJAJA,'” which is an acronym of Kim’s family’s first names that she uses when giving gifts to family and friends.

Children’s extra-curricular and enrichment activities were really important to Eric and Charlotte, since they saw the positive difference it made in their own childrens’ lives. So they decided they wanted to help local, less-advantaged children have those same opportunities, and the SKJAJA Fund was born. Their mission is to provide underprivileged children in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, North Carolina the opportunity to participate in social and educational enrichment activities such as, but not limited to: team sports or camps, art or dance classes, educational camps; school band/orchestra, etc.

Because $200 does not go very far, Eric and Charlotte asked each other, “OK, what do we know how to do that can help raise funds for SKJAJA? Eric has a food and beverage background and knows how to throw a great party. And with my design and marketing background, I knew how to promote it. So we started with hosting a Beach Shack Boil because Eric used to have a catering business on the side, and all he did was Low-Country Boils.” That first party started their fundraising efforts so they could establish themselves as a non-profit, but the, “How do we do this?” question was yet to be determined.

Through Carrboro Elementary School’s Caring Cubs program, which helps to provide essential items for low-income families at the school, Charlotte got to know the school’s social workers. She soon realized that the social workers throughout the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School System were key to getting SKJAJA off the ground because they could identify students who would benefit the most from their scholarships. Once that relationship was established, SKJAJA was on its way to helping hundreds of local children fulfill their dreams.

PAYING IT FORWARD

What makes The SKJAJA Fund such a wonderful organization is the requirements of its participants. In keeping with the concept of paying forward good deeds, and in order for the young recipients to learn that concept, they are asked to pay their gift forward, expecting nothing in return. They can also ask that the next person continue to pay it forward. Through SKJAJA, children from 5 to 18 years old have given back to our community in multiple ways, including: tutoring other youths, babysitting for neighbors, volunteering for other local non-profits, and creating their own food/book drives.

For example, their first grant recipients were two girls who wanted to participate in the Girls on the Run after school program at their elementary school. To pay it forward, they cleaned the school grounds and planted flowers at their school.

One high school recipient requested private violin lessons, and she made great musical strides in a very short time! Her violin teacher said, “On January 18th, she auditioned for the highly competitive Eastern Regional Orchestra sponsored by the North Carolina Music Educators’ Association and was accepted into the 1st violin section of the String Orchestra, the 2nd orchestra consisting of the students who ranked between about 48th and 72nd of the 150-200 who often sign up for the audition. At the seating audition on the Clinic Weekend, she placed in the 9th chair of the first violin section (a rank of about 57). This placement for a first-time audition speaks wonderfully about Maria’s dedication, focus, and talent. At this point she had been taking violin lessons for only 6 to 7 months. I am very pleased with her progress these last 12 months. Last June, she functioned at a level 5 (American String Teachers’ Association Syllabus). Her recital piece this spring lies at about a level 7, an unusual accomplishment in one year. She performed it the nearly the best of any student I have had.” Her pay-it-forward gift was painting a mural at her high school and volunteering to help her teachers.

Since 2008, the SKJAJA Fund has funded extra-curricular, education, social, and enrichment activities for over 300 children in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School System, and the children who were awarded these scholarships have given back hundreds of hours of time and service to our community. The SKJAJA Fund creates such positive, truly life-changing experiences for everyone involved! Read more about some of the kids they have sponsored here: http://www.skjajafund.org/the-kids

HOW IT WORKS

The SKJAJA Fund currently accepts applications through the referrals of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools’ Social Workers. They are familiar with the children of their school and know if they qualify. Applications are reviewed monthly, and have to be reviewed and voted on by the Board of Directors. All funding is paid directly to the organizations providing the chosen enrichment activity, and when the money has been paid, the applicant is contacted.

SKJAJA CLUBS

SKJAJA Clubs were formed at two of the local high schools during the 2009-10 school year to help support the SKJAJA Fund. Leah Komada founded the Chapel Hill High School club and Adam Glasser (the last “A” of SKJAJA) started the Carrboro High School club. In the 2010-11 school year, a recent grant recipient, Gabi Johnson, formed the SKJAJA Club at East Chapel Hill High School.

The students lead the clubs in “FUNd-raising” activities to help raise money for local kids to participate in extra curricular activities. In addition to school-wide fundraisers, they also hold car washes at the Chapel Hill Pizza Hut. The students recruit not only club members to help with these events, but also grant recipients and kids from elementary and middle schools.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

On Saturday, November 14, 2015, the SKJAJA Fund is hosting another one of their now famous Low-Country Boil fundraisers, at the American Legion Post 6 at 1714 Legion Road in Chapel Hill from 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm, and tickets are still available! Founder, Eric White, describes the Beach Shack Boil as “A big, ol’ party with bluegrass, boiled shrimp and cold beverages!” Ticket prices are $40 per person or $75 per couple. The evening will feature live music by the Lester Fricks Band. A traditional Lowcountry Boil of shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes and spices will be served up with corn bread, beer, wine, sweet tea and dessert. A silent auction will also be held and will feature gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses.

Various levels of sponsorships are available for this event each year, and silent auction donations are always needed. Please contact Char@SKJAJAfund.org for more information.

To purchase tickets to the Beach Shack Boil, please visit http://www.skjajafund.org. 

SKJAJA also hosts Chapel Hill’s  “Color the Hill 4K and Fun Run” every spring, which is a fun, messy, colorful event for the whole family. Run, walk, skip or dance your way to the finish line while you move through a rainbow of fun. As you encounter five color stations along the way – green, purple, yellow, pink, and blue – you are blitzed with non-toxic color by volunteers. All ages, skills, sizes and shapes are welcome, and having a blast at the Color the Hill event is what it’s all about.

By the finish line, you’ll look like a Jackson Pollock painting! It’s an epic color extravaganza!

For more information about Color the Hill, visit: http://www.colorthehill.com

VOLUNTEER

The SKJAJA Fund is always looking for adults and children to volunteer their time and talents in various ways. Please contact Charlotte White for additional information at Char@SKJAJAfund.org. They are also looking to increase their Board of Directors members. If you share their belief that extra-curricular activities are important for a child’s growth and development, help them work to provide those opportunities for our community’s underprivileged children.

DONATE

SKJAJA Fund depends greatly on the support of the community and began to fulfill its mission in 2009 because of the generosity of multiple donors. A little money goes a long way to help enrich the children of our community, and many activities are easily funded with a modest donation. The following are examples of activities that SKJAJA often funds:

Instrument Rental…$13-40 per month
Dance/Creative Movement • 6 weeks…$42
Painting Classes • 6 weeks…$116
Guitar Lessons • 8 weeks…$125
Tennis Seminar • 1 hour…$15
Youth Rec Soccer • Season…$80
Swim Lessons • 8 weeks…$40
Youth Baseball or Football • Season…$52
Writing & Cartooning Class • 8 weeks…$116
Baby Sitting Training • 6 hours…$58
Overnight Field Trip…$70
Tutoring • 5 hours…$125
UNC Alumni Basketball Camp • 1 week…$285
Summer Day Camp • 1 week…$140

To make a tax-deductible donation, please mail a check or money order made out to the SKJAJA Fund to:
104-R NC Hwy. 54 W
Suite 269 Carrboro, NC 27510

For more information about The SKJAJA Fund, visit their web site: http://www.skjajafund.org

Category: Causes