Kiap Foundation

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United States
Des Moines, IA
Kiap Foundation

Our Mission: To make possible the benefits of martial arts for youth regardless of financial barriers.

Note: The KIAP Foundation is a 501(c)3 certified non-profit so all donations are tax deductible.

06/23/2026

Over the weekend our KIAP Foundation student, Serenity, earned her green belt at Bishop's Elite Martial Arts Academy! Congratulations Serenity and way to show perseverance! 🙌🥋

05/27/2026

As time evolves in this ever changing society, so has our logo. With change comes a new era of growth, but there always has to be roots from where that growth starts.

In respect and remembrance of the original logo that began with this foundation, each informational post pays homage to every color in the original logo.

To never forget where the roots started from.

05/08/2026

Double congratulations to our KIAP Foundation students Maria and Sampson for earning their brown belt/black stripe and brown belt/white stripe belts at promotions last Friday night Farrell's Martial Arts! Way to persevere and stay focused on your black belt journey!! Well done!!

Donate to the KIAP Foundation: https://www.kiapfoundation.org/home/

04/27/2026

Bishop's Elite Martial Arts Academy continues to be one of the top ranking competition schools in the state of Iowa. They contribute to the community by doing acts of service including, quarterly park clean-up and cooking meals at the Ronald McDonald house.

With a school that is 3 years old now, owner Master Ryan Bishop, looks forward to watching his school grow in the intention to watch positive personal growth and development in all his students.

Master Bishop turned to Taekwondo at the age of seven. Being surrounded by negative influences throughout his early childhood going into his teen years, he needed guidance in his life that would put his mental, physical and spiritual well-being on the forefront. Martial Arts provided that guidance for Master Bishop.

“Taekwondo, for me, is not just an activity, but a way of life. I live, breathe, and take it everywhere I go. No matter where I go, my goal is to leave the people, places, and things better than where I left it.” - Master Ryan Bishop

03/29/2026

The idea for this foundation birthed a few months before COVID.

The office manager, Mary Daily Lang of Farrells Martial Arts, noticed some students that were developing positive growth from martial arts were dropping out of training. This was not because of loss of interest, but because of family financial trauma (family medical hardships, job losses, divorces, etc.)

So she formed an exploratory committee consisting of senior martial arts students and/or parents of the students, to address this concern.

This committee consisted of 7 people:

Mary Daily Lang, Nora Crosthwaite, Greg Madden, Mike Szymczuk, Jerry Rutledge, Lakenya Stinson, and Natali Justiniano Pahl.

These were people who were all Martial artists themselves and with most of them being Parents of Martials artists too.

With reviewing how other organizations (Martial arts associations) around the country addressed student financial needs, the committee decided to form a non-profit foundation.

A Foundation that would assist financially needy children (preschool - 8th grade) to attend martial arts classes.

The KIAP Foundation became incorporated in 2021 and received 501 (c) (3) in 2022.

Address

PO Box 7553
Des Moines, IA
50323

Website

http://www.kiapfoundation.org/

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