Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation, or WAIF, will receive a $5,000 donation from Tiger Martial Arts, LLC, an all-ages martial arts school in Langley.

The school raised the money during its Black Belt Club’s annual “Kickathon.” In honor of the school’s 20th anniversary this year, the Black Belt Club students chose to benefit WAIF for the first time in the Kickathon’s history.

Sensei Wendi Barker will present WAIF Board President Kelsey Engstrom with the raised funds at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 7, at Tiger Martial Arts, located at 721 Camano Ave, Langley, Room #123. Black Belt Club students will be in attendance to present the donation and demonstrate kicks.

Over 45 Black Belt Club students participated in this year’s event. Each student had a 10-minute slot in which to perform as many kicks as possible. Students were sponsored by their friends or family members, who donated one to five cents per kick or provided flat donations. The student with the highest number of kicks performed 1,185 kicks in 10 minutes. The youngest participant, a 6-year-old student, completed 552 kicks.

WAIF is funded almost entirely by donations. Generous gifts from the community, such as this donation from Tiger Martial Arts, support our shelter operations, allowing us to provide high quality care for our shelter animals and operate programs benefiting pets in the community.

Founded in 1990, Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the state of Washington. WAIF is recognized as a 2024 Guidestar Platinum Level organization in transparency and as a Charity Navigator 4-star nonprofit organization.