HOUSTON – The legacy of martial arts legend, actor and philanthropist Chuck Norris continues to inspire a new generation.
To celebrate his life and the impact of the nonprofit he co-founded, Raising Cane’s Founder and CEO Todd Graves joined Gena Norris and her children, Dakota and Danilee Norris, in Cypress, Texas, for a special event honoring Chuck Norris and officially launching Raising Cane’s 2026 National Chicken Finger Day campaign.
This year’s campaign is dedicated to celebrating Norris’ extraordinary legacy while raising funds for Kickstart Kids, the nonprofit Chuck and Gena Norris founded to help young people build confidence, character, discipline and leadership through martial arts.
What Is Kickstart Kids?
The program partners with schools to provide martial arts instruction that goes beyond self-defense, teaching students valuable life skills such as respect, responsibility, self-control, perseverance and goal setting. By combining physical training with character education, Kickstart Kids aims to empower students to make positive choices both inside and outside the classroom.
Since its founding in 1990, the organization has impacted hundreds of thousands of students across Texas, helping young people develop the confidence and resilience needed to succeed in school and in life.
Today, Chuck Norris’ legacy lives on through Kickstart Kids, continuing the mission he cared so deeply about—giving the next generation the tools to become confident leaders and positive role models in their communities.
Watch as Lauren Kelly chats with John Kurek, Kickstart Kids’ Chief Director of Operations about the positive impact the program has on the kids involved.