Sunny K. Park Earns Lifetime Achievement Honor For Youth Challenge Support, Encouragement

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.

From left: Chris Gardner, Office of the Secretary of Defense; Atlanta businessman Sunny Park; and Col. (Ret.) James R. Tinkham, director, NGB Youth Programs gathered in Carefree, Ariz., to present the Youth Challenge Lifetime Achievement Awards.