Atlanta businessman and Youth Challenge advocate Sunny K. Park was
presented the National Guard Youth Challenge Lifetime Achievement Award
during the National Guard Youth Challenge Program Annual Workshop 2007
held in Carefree, Ariz., in January. Park will again be recognized for this
achievement on February 27, at the National Guard Youth Challenge
Foundation "Champions" Dinner in Washington.
Park, a South Korean immigrant who moved
to the United States in 1974, has become a highly successful
Atlanta entrepreneur whose personal interests and generous
support has been directed toward numerous youth and charitable
programs.
Since first visiting the Georgia National
Guard's Youth Challenge campus at Fort Stewart in 2000, Park has
become one of the program's strongest and most supportive
advocates.
In an effort to expand the learning
experience for thousands of Youth Challenge Academy cadets
each year and to provide his own personal "up by your
bootstraps" success formula, Park initiated and funded the Good
Neighboring Campaign's "Korea Day." This unique educational
program brings a group of native Koreans to Georgia's YCA campuses to
present the Korea's culture including its history, the
preparation of a traditional Korean meal and a demonstration of
the ancient Korean martial art of Tae-Kwon-Do.
According to Park, "My initial goal is to
introduce students to the culture of Korea and the work ethic I
subscribe to. I then want to encourage them and show them how to
achieve their own personal success."
Park has presented his cultural program
and home-spun success philosophy to literally hundreds of "at
risk" YCA cadets around the country. For six years, he has
presented his "Korea Day" program to the graduating classes of
Georgia's Youth Challenge Academy. He is now carrying his
program to Youth Challenge academies in New York, New Jersey,
Virginia, Louisiana and Arizona.
"The easy way is not always the best way,"
says the highly animated and charismatic Park who concludes each
presentation with his own success mantra, 'If Sunny Can - I
Can."
"For over six years, Mr. Park has
generously, energetically and enthusiastically supported the
Youth Challenge program throughout the nation, promoting its
image with the public and providing unique educational
opportunities to the cadets," said Lt. Gen. David B. Poythress,
Georgia's Adjutant General.
