Complete Hydraulic Helps Lift Rupert's Kids

Online, September 22, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Long before he became a reality television star and household name, recognizable by his signature beard, tie-dye shirts, and "ARGH!" roar, Rupert Boneham followed his passion to work with troubled teens in the central Indiana area.

In 2004, Rupert became a fan favorite on CBS's hit reality show Survivor, and played back to back seasons returning for the first All Star edition. Before the finale of the season, the show announced that the American public would choose the most popular All Star player and reward an additional contestant with a million-dollar prize. The show's producer, Mark Burnett had never done this before, nor has he since, but when the host revealed that 85% of the 38 million votes were for the Hoosier with a heart of gold, Rupert's life changed forever.

After winning the title "America's Favorite Survivor" Rupert made good on his promise to viewers and donated a large portion of his winnings to create Rupert's Kids, the culmination of 20-plus years of mentoring at-risk teens. Rupert's Kids' mission is to empower youth to discover their inner strengths, realize their own self worth and recognize their value to society. This is accomplished by teaching them valuable skills, trades and promoting education.

One of the largest programs that Rupert's Kids is involved with is The Adopt a Park Program. This partnership with the City of Indianapolis' Parks Department has saved taxpayers $150,000 since its inception and continues to provide a safe, enjoyable work environment for the young adults.

A unique aspect of the charity is that it is not supported by government grants or tax dollars. Rupert raises funds and awareness for Rupert's Kids through a campaign of nationwide appearances and speaking engagements, and support from the corporate world; such as the new partnership with Complete Hydraulic Service & Sales, Inc.

"What Rupert is doing by mentoring these young adults, who our 'system' and much of society has written off, and giving them a second chance is very noble," Randy Brown, C.E.O. at Complete Hydraulic explains, "So many kids these days grow up without guidance or . They are at risk of taking wrong turns or making bad decisions. The kids that complete Rupert's program are true survivors!"

To help support Rupert's Kids, Complete Hydraulic is donating a portion of each motorcycle lift purchase to the charity. Additionally, the company is launching a national campaign that includes both print and internet advertising to help draw more attention to Rupert's Kids, as well as adding information about the charity to their own website.

"The fact that Rupert is a man of his word and gave back such a big portion of the money that the Survivor fans awarded him to better the lives of others says a lot," added Brown, "His passion is contagious as he talks about the lives the program has changed to everyone he meets. When times are tough, either personal or professional, we feel it is still important to do our part to support such a great cause. There is always someone out there that is in a worse situation and needs a helping hand."