Chase Community Giving Contest

Matthew Shepard Foundation Selected for Grant in Chase Community Giving Contest

The Matthew Shepard Foundation will receive a $25,000 grant from the JP Morgan Chase Foundation in the new year to further our educational and outreach programs against hatred and bias, thanks to votes cast by Facebook users in the bank?s “Chase Community Giving” program.

Fans of the Matthew Shepard Foundation on the leading online social network cast enough votes to place us in the top 100 community charities nationwide in first-round balloting earlier in December. A second round of voting begins January 15, in which the top vote-getting nonprofit organization will qualify for $1 million, and five runners-up will win $100,000 grants.

“The overwhelming show of support for the Matthew Shepard Foundation is deeply gratifying and will provide us a huge boost as we seek to double our outreach to schools and community groups in 2010,” said Executive Director Jason Marsden.

“We hugely appreciate the thousands of supporters who voted for us on Facebook to give us this unique opportunity and additional exposure,” Marsden added.

The unexpected new grant will also help expedite our ongoing Web development work already under way for 2010, in which our youth-oriented Web resource, MatthewsPlace.com, will be expanded to include more user-generated content and on-demand educational program modules.

While the Foundation personally reached 18 high schools, 23 colleges and 22 community organizations with its seminars and speaking programs in 2009, developing similar programs delivered via the Internet will allow us to reach a vastly larger audience with our message of replacing hate with understanding, compassion and acceptance.

Facebook users can register to participate in the next round of voting by visiting the Chase Community Giving page athttp://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/ and following the instructions provided.

Blue Belt Promotion – Dwayne Rumfelt

December 12, 2009
Congratulations!!
Dwayne Rumfelt
Received his blue belt under
Pedro Sauer in Brazilian jiu jitsu at Hybrid Martial Arts

Legendary

Legendary, a documentary about Malaipet “The Diamond”
Sasiprapa, a Thai boxer who trained in Muay Thai in Thailand as a boy, then went “inter”, fighting in America.
The film is directed by David Huey and is being marketed by Cine Excel Entertainment.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N-jJKtRyX4

http://www.cineexcel.com/legendary/index.html

Cast

Gunn Kanchanastit,
Malaipet Sasiprapa,
Krit Saeung,
Gary Woods

Director(s)

David Huey

Writer(s)

David Huey
Producer(s)
Mongkhon Wiwasuk, David Huey

Synopsis

An inspiring true story that spans eight years & five continents. Malaipet retires after losing his Championship title to live with his father on his struggling rice farm. For this Thai boxer, being sent away to a Muay Thai camp meant leaving his home at age 12. For his father, sending his son away meant giving him a chance to fight for a better life. Now back home, he starts rebuilding a relationship.

An American fight manager recruits Malaipet to come live & fight in America. Making a tough decision, Malaipet leaves his father once again.

Malaipet begins his journey, easily winning fight after fight. While Muay Thai fighters are looked down upon in Thailand, they are heroes & stars throughout the world. The sensational & flashy life style of America take his toll on the boxer. From excess drinking to excess women, to no training, he loses as many fights as he is winning. Desperate for money, Malaipet accepts an offer to fight in Mixed Martial Arts in the Cage. He thrills the audience & secures a national TV contract.

Feeling homesick & patriotic, Malaipet accepts to fight for his country in battle billed as “Holland vs. Thailand”.

Now back on the top of his game, he is given a chance to fight for the World Title again, but this time against a fellow Thai teammate and friend, Yodsaenklai.

Malaipet loses his bid for the championship & is broke once again. After investigating Malaipet’s bank accounts, his manager discovers all these years Malaipet has been sending his fight purse back to his father. With this final championship fight, he finally pays off his father’s farm.

The Treasures Of Balintawak

The Three Treasures Of Balntawak

The Inosanto Academy Of Martial Arts
December 13, 2009

Congratulations! Baby News!

Congratulations to Vic & Amy Spatola. Welcome their son, Victor Jr.

Jessica and Jon welcome their son Landon

Matthew Shepard Foundation Interns

Matthew Shepard Foundation is looking for a young person from the Denver Metro area to serve as a MatthewsPlace.com intern this spring.

US:
Since Matthew’s death and the creation of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, Judy Shepard has spent countless hours meeting young people across the country. Many of these young people have reached out to her to share their stories about the pain and hurt of being teased, harassed, and mistreated by their peers, parents, and other community members for being who they are.
Judy quickly discovered that there is a gap in the information that is being offered to young people, especially those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) and allied community. She felt that one way the Matthew Shepard Foundation could use its voice is to provide young people with a safe place to access resources and information critical to their development and survival.
Matthewsplace.com is that vehicle and continues to be a fitting tribute to Judy’s son Matthew who was killed simply for being who he was. MatthewsPlace.com provides LGBTQQ and allied youth with a site that incorporates cutting-edge technology with up-to-date information and resources about how to live a healthy, productive, and hate-free life.
THE TASK:
As an intern you will be asked to spend 16 hours a week this spring assisting MSF staff with the ongoing maintenance of MatthewsPlace.com. This will include identifying new resources and content to post to the site on a weekly basis. You may also be asked to provide other support within the organization as needed.
THE INTERN:
We are looking for someone who has knowledge of and/or interest in social justice issues, is getting ready to start college or is currently enrolled and has the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.

If you are interested, please visit: http://www.matthewshepard.org

Tell a Friend!

10 YEAR LOGO MED
Matthew Shepard Foundation was founded by Dennis and Judy Shepard in memory of their 21-year old son, Matthew, who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998. Created to honor Matthew in a manner that was appropriate to his dreams, beliefs and aspirations, the Foundation seeks to “Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion & Acceptance” through its varied educational, outreach and advocacy programs and by continuing to tell Matthew’s story.

In Memoriam – Glen Leonard – December 7, 2009

A Tribute to My Friend and Brother

by Ken Chun

12/22/2009

The year was 1985 and I was a freshman in high school. As a disabled student in those days I had the privilege of leaving each class a few minutes early to get to my next class so I could avoid the crowded hallways. It was during one of those breaks between classes that I first met Glen Irvin Leonard II. He was a small, shy guy on crutches who didn’t say much. It took a couple of days before we actually had a real conversation. Nothing too serious, just a conversation about our classes, the teachers we had, who we liked or didn’t like – typical teenager conversation. I had begun training in the martial arts in 1984 and we would talk about martial arts often because he was very interested in training as well.

That conversation was the beginning of an unbreakable bond that would last 24 years. Even when I moved to Heidelberg, Germany in 1986 we kept in touch through the mail. I returned from Germany in 1989 and it was like nothing had changed. About two years later he finally found a place that he could train in Shotokan Karate. I remember encouraging him to pursue it because it had been a dream of his since he was a little kid. After a couple of years of training in that art he found Trident Academy of Martial Arts (now Trident Academy of Mixed Martial Arts). He had finally found his martial arts home away from home! About a month later I joined so we could train together and hopefully become instructors. Well, long story short due to our various health problems we began to attend classes less and less and we didn’t become instructors but we had a great time training and learning the Filipino martial arts of Kali and Panantukan, as well as Muay Thai and Jeet Kune Do/Jun Fan Gung Fu. We would tease each other occasionally about being slackers in our training because, I think, we both felt guilty about not going to class. We just trained on our own and did the best we could to stay active in the martial arts we loved. He especially loved knife fighting! He must have owned at least ten knives and knew how to use every one of them. He carried three knives at all times. He would get excited whenever he learned a new knife technique and he’d go home and practice it over and over again, even while watching television.

Glen died of a brain tumor on December 7th, 2009. We buried him a week ago. I wish he were here now so I could tell him to shut up, smack his hands with sticks again and then buy him a beer. Rest in peace, brah. I’ll see you later…and buy you a beer.

This clip features some footage of Glen training at Burton Richardson events.