Over the last month that I have been writing this blog, our readership has grown each day. I want to extend a personal welcome to each of you and thank you for reading. I plan on continuing to bring you tips, quotes and media releases about what ARISE is up to. I also plan on introducing you to the fantastic curricula ARISE has to offer on our website. If you like what you see here each day, I also invite you to join our group on Facebook and Myspace and follow us on Twitter.
And now, 10 Facts about ARISE Life Skills:
- ARISE was started in 1986 by a former at-risk kid and high school dropout, Edmund Benson. He and his wife Susan, an experienced teacher with a Masters Degree, started the foundation as a way to reach at-risk youth.
- ARISE lessons teach everything from hygiene and manners to sexual abuse prevention, interview skills and self esteem. One of the most important life skills we offer is anger management.
- The newest ARISE program is called CHOICES: Drop It At The Door. CHOICES is an innovative workshop for anyone that wants to learn how to relieve stress and manage anger, stopping the “boomerang” effect of bringing stress from work home with you or taking unhappiness from home with you each day to work, poisoning both environments.
- ARISE co-founder Edmund Benson will celebrate his 79th birthday on September 14th. Mr. Benson still adheres to his “Two-a-Day” work ethic. He works 16 hours a day, seven days a week.
- The Bensons have written over 125 books.
- As of 9/9/2008, ARISE has certified 5,284 Life Skills Instructors who have gone on to teach almost 4,000,000 hours of ARISE lessons for at-risk youth and teens in the U.S. and abroad.
- All the ARISE materials are designed for people who have trouble with reading and writing. They are easy to understand, with no large words or run-on sentences.
- Mr. Benson has a street named after him in Miami: Edmund Benson Boulevard.
- ARISE offers great material for pre-k, elementary and middle school kids as well as teens and adults. The pre-k books encourage young minds and inspire imagination and creativity, as well as teach basic safety skills. The middle school books help kids resist peer pressure, deal with bullies, avoid drugs and alchohol, build their self esteem and practice sound study skills.
- ARISE is a NONPROFIT Foundation that relies on public donations to reach at-risk populations. If you would like to donate, please visit the website.
Tomorrow, the blog will feature more insightful quotes to inspire and enlighten. But just for today, we wanted to introduce ourselves. Thank you for reading.
-Amy Doucette, ARISE Writer/Web Coordinator adoucette@arisefoundation.org
- Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ARISElifeskills
- Join us on Facebook
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