BURBANK, CA - 
(NewMediaWire) - December 15, 2013 - The Martial Arts History Museum launches a year-end giving campaign in its effort to expand the Museum and provide additional educational platforms in which young children can learn and develop a better understanding of Asian cultures and traditions.
Seeking to expand its current location, the museum’s goal is to raise $1 million in donations to fund the creation of a small theatre and establish a youth resource center focusing on Asian and American history.
The theatre will provide a venue for viewing documentaries, film festivals, anime shorts and a variety of movie screenings. The resource center will provide easy access for young children to conduct research on Asian history, the birth of Anime, martial arts in the media and more.
“Although the internet provides a vast array of research material, the creation of a research area will be designed to focus more clearly on how Asian history became part of American history,” notes museum president Michael Matsuda. “The museum also provides a voice for Asian Americans to explore their own heritage and culture.”
The Martial Arts History Museum is not a sports facility, nor is it a who’s who, but it is rather an educational facility opening the doors for young people and visitors to explore the impact of Asian art, culture, tradition and music and the role the martial arts played in each country’s history.
“The martial arts is that common denominator across the world and millions of kids currently study the arts. In fact, in just our nation alone, there are over 28,000 martial arts schools. The museum takes it to the next step and opens the doors to diverse cultures and traditions,” says Matsuda. “We share the story of our nation’s diversity and through this, we can have a unique opportunity to guard against prejudice that threatens our liberty.”
The Martial Arts History Museum, which began in 1999 as a traveling exhibit, opened its doors in 2006 and relocated to Burbank in 2011. A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the Museum enjoys visitations from schools, home schools, martial arts studios and a variety of church groups.
Designed by artists from Disney, Dreamworks and The Simpsons, it creates a fun, learning environment for young children all the while, creating a more cultural understanding.
“Museums play such an important role in a child’s life and having something they already have a interest in makes learning more enjoyable. With scavenger hunts and history lessons, kids can open a whole new chapter for all of us,” says Matsuda.
Raising $1 Million will allow the museum to double their size by purchasing the attached facility.
For more information or to make a donation, please visit the Martial Arts History Museum at 2319 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91506 or their website at MAmuseum.com. (818) 478-1722 or info@MAmuseum.com.