Magic Bus Aims to End Poverty for a Million Children Worldwide

Sept. 10, 2015 - PRLog -- NEW YORK, NY —Through a mentoring and activity-based curriculum working with some of the most marginalized children worldwide, Magic Bus is delaying child marriage and helping healthy, empowered young people make college and careers a reality.

In September, more than 500 philanthropists will sustain this vision during Magic Bus USA’s largest fundraising events of the year. Gala celebrations in New York City and Houston are expected to raise enough funds to enroll more than 25,000 children into Magic Bus programs across South Asia.

Tickets may be purchased online:

New York City
Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m.
The St. Regis New York
magicbususa.givezooks.com/events/magic-bus-new-york-benefit-gala-2015

Houston
Sept. 19 at 6:00 p.m.
Houston Marriott Westchase
magicbususa.givezooks.com/events/2nd-annual-magic-bus-benefit-dinner

Matthew Spacie, who founded Magic Bus after coaching and mentoring Mumbai youth in 1999, says:  “With 90 percent of Magic Bus graduates entering college, we’ve proven our model in India and feel the time is right to take Magic Bus to South Asian countries with a similar cultural landscape and development needs.”

Celebrating its 16th year, and as the largest sport for development NGO in India, Magic Bus successfully uses a curriculum rooted in experiential-learning to help children, youth, and entire communities make better life decisions about education, gender-equality, health awareness, and leadership skills. Its programs reach more than 300,000 participants age 8 to 18 each week, delivered by more than 8,000 volunteer youth mentors in their communities.

Magic Bus USA Board member Anurag Bhargava says he is impressed with program results with 71 percent of Magic Bus program graduates attending college, almost eight times the Indian national average. No girls in the Magic Bus program under age 18 are married, while there is a 43 percent child marriage rate in India.

Says Bhargava: “Once you achieve critical mass it is a lot easier to demonstrate the benefits of the program to children, especially young girls. It can change their lives.”

Empowering youth is the theme of this fall’s gala celebrations in Houston on September 19 and New York City on September 30. The festivities in New York City are sponsored by IREO, one of India’s leading property developers, and will include: dinner, cocktails, and live auctions. Houston’s event will be attended by Bollywood star Manoj Bajpa. The New York City event is hosted by ESPN Sportscenter anchor Kevin Negandhi, with support fromOlympic gold medalist Julie Foudy; and Georgina Chapman, co-founder of fashion label Marchesa.

Says Foudy: “Sports are a gift of empowerment, providing confidence, discipline, and community. If we couple sports with life lessons we can teach young women and their families that they can contribute to society in a positive way.”

This past July two of Magic Bus India’s participants, Nikhitha and Sangita, traveled to America for the first time to attend a week-long overnight sports and leadership camp led by Foudy. They are among 98 percent of adolescent girls in the Magic Bus program who regularly attend secondary school, compared to the national average, 46 percent.

If you want to support Nikhitha, Sangita, and other Magic Bus participants, but cannot attend a celebration you may make a donation at MagicBusUSA.org (http://www.magicbususa.org).

Founded in 1999, Magic Bus breaks the poverty cycle, one child at a time. Working with local community mentors and parents, often over a 10-year period, its programs in India, Singapore, and the UK include an activity-based curriculum of games and education to help youth become agents of change. To learn more, visit magicbususa.org (http://www.magicbususa.org).