In covering the news and keeping the community informed, unfortunately we have to report a lot of bad news; but rest assured that every Friday throughout the summertime, when you tune into WCHL, we will have some good news to report to you!  That’s because it is “Good News Friday!”

Presented by The Strowd on Franklin Street, and their Shag Dance Fridays!

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Click here to listen to Ron Stutts broadcast this week’s ‘Good News Friday’ featured story.

 

If you listen to WCHL, you’ve probably heard the term SKJAJA, but do you know what it actually is?  Well, you need to, because it is awesome!

The SKJAJA Fund is a local charity formed in 2008 by Chapel Hill Residents Charlotte and Eric White.

For her birthday, Eric’s sister, Kim, gave money to each of her family members with the condition that they pay it forward, and report back.

To pay it forward, Eric and Charlotte founded SKJAJA, named for Kim’s family; Scott, Kim Josh, Ashley, Jessica and Adam. SKJAJA.

But it really is more than charity.

The SKJAJA Fund provides funds for underprivileged kids in the Chapel Hill and Carrboro community to participate in extracurricular enrichment activities, such as field trips, sports, music lessons, tutoring and summer camps; but the paying it forward idea continues with the concept that in return, the kids are asked to also pay it forward, by volunteering and participating in community service projects and helping others.

On paper that is such as cool concept, but in reality it is even cooler!

In an interview with WCHL’s Aaron Keck last week, Charlotte White said that they recently ran the numbers and quantified that since 2008 The SKJAJA Fund has helped over 500 kids participate in extracurricular enrichment programs, which in turn, translates to over 500 service projects. From cleaning up neighborhoods, to executing a toiletry drive for Haiti, some of the kids end up getting more excited about their service projects and paying it forward than the extracurricular activities they are granted through the program.

Primarily funded by 2 anchor events, the Beach Shack Boil in November and the Color the Hill Fun Run in May at UNC, and with  SKJAJA Clubs now in place at the three local high schools, the program continues to grow;  but with increasing need, they need your help.

Volunteer, participate in the fundraisers, and donate; all of that helps this amazing program.

Paying it forward through SKJAJA, that’s our Good News Friday story of the week!

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