Fencing4Future 2026 Summer Camp
A Message from Pratham Chutkay
In August 2026, Fencing4Future held a 5-day-long free fencing camp for underserved students in the Columbus area. In order to make this camp possible, I partnered with Coach Stan Prilutsky, Head Coach and Director of Athletic Development at Columbus Fencing & Fitness. He was my first coach and guided me throughout my early fencing journey. In order to market the camp and create a student roster, I put up informational flyers about the camp at local libraries, local food banks, and registration flyers on social media apps like Nextdoor. For this first cohort, we were able to support 7 students who enjoyed 15+ hours of instruction and bouting. Our last day was a mini tournament where the students were able to display the skills they learned on the strip in front of parents and grandparents. The students thoroughly enjoyed this fencing camp as they learned all the skills needed for fencing, including footwork, strategy, film analysis, proper technique, and respect. Some of these students have wanted to learn fencing but have never had access to the sport. We were able to change that. We made a real difference in these students' lives through this camp. We were able to give them access to a sport that has historically excluded disadvantaged students. The success of this camp is incredibly inspiring and I am extremely excited for the future of Fencing4Future. Thank you to all those who have contributed in any way to Fencing4Future. Your generous donations and strong support have made this cohort possible and these camps would not be here without all of you. I am so proud of this first cohort and everything that's been done to make this camp possible. For the last four years, I have tirelessly been trying to create a free fencing camp for underprivileged students. Now, after facing significant obstacles, we were able to start this camp this summer. And we are already planning new cohorts in order to provide free fencing camps and classes to more disadvantaged students in the Columbus area. This first update on our non-profit is very promising and will certainly not be the last. I look forward to furthering our mission and ensuring that we continue our efforts in making fencing accessible for all. Thank you for allowing me to begin this journey and I hope you will help me continue this journey.
Fencing4Future Donation Drive
Organized by:
Sai Pratham Chutkay
Agasthya Prabhakar
Saisiddhi Chutkay
Our GOAL:
Our mission is to empower and uplift students in underprivileged local schools by providing them with the necessary resources, support, and inspiration to transform their lives through the sport of fencing. We achieve this by pairing them with mentors who can guide and motivate them, and by offering fencing-based scholarships to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder their progress. Our goal is to create a unique and exciting experience for these students, one that instills hope, confidence, and a sense of achievement.
What We Want to See:
We seek to broaden the horizons of young people and enable them to discover the possibilities that the sport of fencing can offer. Our primary objective is to promote greater participation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) youth in fencing. We believe that by exposing them to this unique sport, we can help them explore their potential and expand their worldview.
Why are we doing this?:
Our aim is to create opportunities for underprivileged children who may not have access to extracurricular activities, particularly in sports. We want to offer them the chance to try out a sport that is gaining global popularity. Unfortunately, the US Census has revealed that many children living in poverty do not have the means to participate in sports due to the high costs involved. Fencing, for instance, can require expensive equipment, with costs for equipment alone reaching upwards of $500. In addition, classes, private lessons, travel expenses, fencing memberships, and competition fees can easily amount to several thousand dollars. As a non-profit organization, our goal is to provide these opportunities to underprivileged children at no cost to them..
How are we going to use the funds?
Equipment
The gear required for fencing comprises a variety of items such as blades, masks, gloves, jackets, trousers, chest guards, shoes, body cords, and more. The cost of these items can amount to several hundred dollars
Classes & Lessons
Fencing classes & private lessons
Scholarships
We offer fencing scholarships that can be utilized to cover the costs of USA Fencing Memberships, fencing classes and lessons, and tournament fees.
Donate now!
We started fencing at extremely young ages and we feel grateful to have access to exceptional coaching and training facilities. However, we know that not all children are as fortunate as us in this regard. We then initiated a program to introduce the sport of fencing to underprivileged children. Our aim is to make a positive impact on the lives of these kids. By making a donation to our cause, you can contribute to igniting the spark of hope in these young minds.
Thanks to our Donors |
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Aditi Gupta |
Aimen Ahmed |
Ankita Gaur |
Bhoompally Reddy |
Cook Orthodontics |
Donald Young |
Dublin Dental |
Gautam Kakade |
Harsh Jayara |
Healthiva |
Jay Lindner |
Jill Spradlin |