Sometimes, sports seem to defy physics: the reluctant bend of a deep homerun that seems to stubbornly hang in air before disappearing into an ocean of fans; the golfer’s perfect draw of an approach shot; Michael Jordan floating in for a dunk.

Watch a Ted Williams swing, watch him uncoil, and one might swear he could not have been created to do anything else in life. Purity comes to mind.

One stands in such awe when watching the Kenyan athletes of the local “Running Far” program.

They slip effortlessly past on a track as easily as running water, light as rain and pure as gold.

Many running fans have seen Kenyans they break the tape at marathon finish lines or in Olympic distance races. Seen up close, it can leave one breathless.

Ben Kurgat, coach and founder of the local Running Far program that currently hosts and trains four Kenyan runners began recently. These runners include Julius Kogo, 24, Isaac Birir, 30, Kirui Kipyegon, 29, and Kennedy Kemei, 32.

“We had an organized group of runners for several years, but with the start of Running Far, we’re trying to do things a little differently,” said Kurgat, a Kenyan who attended the University of Virginia.”

Running Far is about far more than running, he said.

“We’re refocusing the program, where ‘Running Far’ means running for a reason,” he said. “Each person in the program now does something to give back both to the community they come from and the community where they’re racing.”

A recent example included a visit to a Chapel Hill / Carrboro Pacers Youth Running Club practice in May, where over a hundred young runners from the local community got to hear stories from the Kenyans. Afterwards, the Kenyans joined group runs with the young athletes.

“Our athletes enjoyed themselves and said that it was a good cultural exchange,” Kurgat said of the event. “They felt like celebrities among the kids, but … the athletes were also reminded that what they have accomplished in running is not small. The session actually magnified their running achievements.”

Kenyan runners, left to right, Kennedy Kemei, Julius Kogo, Isaac Birir and (not shown) Kirui Kipyegon visit with youth athletes at a May 2010 practice of the Chapel Hill / Carrboro Pacers Youth Running Club.

Kurgat said Running Far also facilitates similar exchanges in Kenya between the athletes and those of their hometowns and villages.

“We’ve added (that requirement),” Kurgat explained. “They must also work with the kids back home — to teach them about the benefits of running and the opportunities they’ve discovered, like getting to see the world and things others have accomplished.

“It’s not just about coming (to the U.S.), racing, and then going back, coming, racing, and going back.

“We’re trying to give the program more meaning and more direction. Every participant benefits, and then, with their success, they can also help other athletes to succeed.”

Read full article online from Chapel Hill News.

My son Kenan and I had the opportunity to meet Richard Branson in New York in May 2010. My goals for the meeting were to discuss a leadership initiative/book that I had been working on and to inspire Kenan by introducing him to one of the finest social entrepreneurs who has ever lived. As you’ll see in the article, Kenan stole the show!

As seen in Wall Street Journal – May 7, 2010

This week, Sir Richard Branson was in New York for several press events: the Time 100 Gala on Tuesday as well as a daylong conference called The Courage Forum on Wednesday, which was sponsored by the Americas Business Council and was meant “to find inspiration in the brave individuals that inhabit our world today.”

Mr. Branson was also in town to meet Kenan Kitchen, an 11-year-old fledgling entrepreneur from Chapel Hill, N.C. Mr. Kitchen’s father, Jim, had bid on some time with Mr. Branson in an online auction a year or two ago, paying in the range of $10,000 to $15,000 for the experience. A trip to Ulusaba in South Africa, where Mr. Branson has a private game reserve, is in the cards.

“He wants to make sure his son will have a rich and fascinating life,” Mr. Branson said of the Kitchens, in a many-windowed conference room at MoMA, on a break from the Courage Forum. He had just finished signing a copy of Monopoly for the young Mr. Kitchen, who was dressed nattily in a crisp white oxford shirt and khakis and is a fan of the board game.

“I’ve been playing Monopoly in real life and as a game all my life,” Mr. Branson said. “Go to jail? Yes, done that once.”

Read the entire article online in the WSJ.

Location: Rashkis Elementary library, Chapel Hill
Sponsored by: Kramden Institute

On June 3rd, 10 elementary school students attending Rashkis Elementary in Chapel Hill were provided with Dell Computers and flat screen monitors by the Kramden Institute.

The children, known as “Kramden Scholars” are students who have worked hard in school yet do not have the financial means to afford a home computer.

These refurbished computers are donated by area businesses and Kramden volunteers fix, clean, update and make them suitable for use again. Computer programs similar to Microsoft Office are also provided to make the computers useful to the kids using them.

Deshera Mack, Rashkis Principal, Daniel Gonzalez, 3rd grader at Rashkis, Ms. Norwood Administrative Assistant at Rashkis, Cari DelMariani, Kramden employee. Picture by Jim Kitchen

Angela Vargas, a mother of 2 children at Rashkis, arrived at the Award Day 30 minutes early. “My kids are so thrilled to get a computer at home. This is a great feeling to finally get a computer for them.”
Daniel Gonzalez, a third grader in Mrs. Orr’s class, couldn’t wait to get his “new” computer. “I asked my teacher and Ms. Norwood every day when I was going to be able to get my computer.” He added, “I really need one to type school work and to get on the internet.” His father Roberto shook his head and agreed that having a computer at home would help Daniel and the rest of the family. “Daniel has agreed to teach me how to use it”, laughed the elder Gonzalez.

Deshera Mack, the principal at Rashkis, looked on as the children and parents were instructed how to use the computer by Cari DelMariani, one of Kramden’s employees. “It is like Christmas in June”, said Ms. Mack, smiling proudly. “It’s great to give these children and families the support they need to help them learn. It’s wonderful to provide them with something they didn’t think was obtainable.”

Jim Kitchen, who recently joined the Kramden Board, hopes that this is just the beginning. “I’ve been speaking with principals at other schools in the area and our mission is to help bridge the digital divide in community.”

To learn more about the Kramden Institute visit http://www.kramden.org/

Jim and Mark Dibner, Kramden’s Executive Director, examining laptop computers sent by ModusLink.

Jim Kitchen of Chapel Hill graduated with honors as valedictorian of the 2009 University of Tennessee-Knoxville Executive MBA class. Kitchen is president of Real Property Development, a commercial real estate company in the Triangle that specializes in multi-family and triple-net acquisitions. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Read the entire article in the Raleigh N&O.