For Pits’ Sake Becomes Member of America's Promise Alliance
November 2009
Pit bull group For Pits’ Sake, Inc. becomes partner in nation’s largest Alliance devoted to protecting the lives of America’s youth.
San Jose, CA - November 16, 2009 -- Kris Crawford of For Pits' Sake, Inc. today announced that, as a result of the success of the Knock Out Dog Fighting anti-dog fighting youth intervention program, For Pits’ Sake is now a member of America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest multi-sector alliance of organizations devoted to improving the lives of American youth.
Founded by General Colin Powell in 1997, America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance) is the nation’s largest partnership network working to improve the lives of young people. With over 325 national partners representing the nonprofit, corporate, faith-based, government, policymaking and education sectors, the Alliance is uniquely positioned to make a significant impact in the lives of America’s youth.
The Knock Out Dog Fighting program is an unprecedented youth intervention program that was originally created to stop the cruel and callous activity of dog fighting. However, in the past couple of years it has become so much more. The organization partners with community based organizations, schools, community centers, juvenile detention facilities, law enforcement and gang prevention task forces to address the underlying reasons kids are fighting dogs and abusing animals. Some do it for the money, some do it for status, and sometimes it’s because the child has experienced violence or abuse themselves so the child's anger and violence is directed at the only individual in the family more vulnerable than themselves — an animal.
Knock Out Dog Fighting team members are positive role models that are out in the community helping at-risk youth make better choices, develop empathy for animals, self-respect and healthy lifestyles. Many Knock Out Dog Fighting team members are elite athletes that were chosen to be Knock Out Dog Fighting team members because they take their responsibility of being role models very seriously. They know that because they are professional athletes there is a child somewhere watching what they say and what they do. They know their actions can impact lives.
Another unique key to the success of the various For Pits’ Sake programs is that Crawford’s American Pit Bull Terriers are at the core of everything they do, including the Knock Out Dog Fighting program. “As someone who has used pit bulls in community service for the past 15 years, I know that dogs can reach and teach people on levels that we humans can never achieve”, said Crawford. “I also know that people learn from example better than any other way. The symbolism for a lot of these kids of meeting a dog of a breed they associate only with the worst kind of bloody violence, but that interacts with them in an open, friendly, and responsive way provides a lesson in choice that is invaluable. You don't have to live out the stereotype that your neighborhood or cultural history has hung on you.”
The America’s Promise Alliance grew out of the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in January 1997. All the living presidents came together in Philadelphia, where our nation began. "The challenges we face today, especially those that face our children, require something of all of us -- parents, religious and community groups, business, labor organizations, schools, teachers, our great national civic and service organizations, every citizen... Our goal is to mobilize America’s citizen power in a united effort to solve our common problems, especially those that threaten our young people," said President Clinton on January 24, 1997. The presidents signed a declaration that included these words: “As each of us has the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, each of us has… a duty to take responsibility not just for ourselves and our families but for one another.”
Among the 325 Alliance partner organizations are the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National PTA, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America, National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League, March of Dimes, American Bar Association, National Crime Prevention Council, National 4-H Council, American Academy of Pediatrics, Salvation Army, YMCA of the USA, and Special Olympics.
"We are honored to be a part of the Alliance and look forward to working with the organization and its partners,” said Crawford. "This partnership will increase our ability to protect our children, our animals and our communities from cruelty and abuse.”
For more information about For Pits' Sake, Inc. go to www.ForPitsSake.org, the Knock Out Dog Fighting program go to www.KnockOutDogFighting.org and to learn more about the America's Promise Alliance, visit www.AmericasPromise.org.
Cris Cohen & Jonny Justice, Anthony Johnson & Eclipse, Kris Crawford & Cheyenne, Dakota & Tahoe, and Jose Palacios
