Meet the Board
We at We Stand Foundation pride ourselves on being 100% volunteer-run! We believe that by dedicating ourselves to the children in our community we can create a better community for everyone.
Kroyler Gracie
Kroyler Gracie is a local business owner, husband, Jiu-Jitsu instructor, and member of the Gracie family; the family that introduced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the world. He has spent his life learning, perfecting, and teaching men, women, and children how to defend themselves against bigger and stronger opponents. As the creator of the We Stand Foundation, Kroyler believes in sharing Jiu-Jitsu with children that are struggling with bullies or abuse so that they may be empowered and encouraged to take control of their lives. Through We Stand, Kroyler hopes to impact the lives of children in our community and beyond.
Rich Smith II
Rich is a life-long martial arts instructor, father of five children, and advocate for empowering and benefitting the youth in our communities. Together with his daughter Emma, he teaches a community outreach program with the Elkhart Parks and Recreation Department. This program is designed to benefit children that wouldn’t normally have access to Jiu-Jitsu. Rich believes that all children should be able to grow up without being bullied or abused and has spent the majority of his life working with and teaching the parents and children in our community. As a school-aged child and victim of bullying, Rich made the decision early on to dedicate his life to helping other victims overcome their challenges and take a stand against bullying.
Sarah Bliler
Sarah Bliler joined the Kroyler Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy as a student in October of 2019. Since then, she has assisted with the Kids’ Jiu-Jitsu Classes, where her youngest daughter is also a student. Sarah also has a background in law enforcement as a police officer and has taught self-defense for women and children through a national program RAD Systems for over 13 years. She and her husband Jeff have 5 children and 3 grandchildren. They lost their 12-year-old granddaughter Rio to suicide in the spring of 2022 as a result of bullying. Rio’s Rainbow is an anti-bullying organization founded in Rio’s memory that partners with We Stand. Through We Stand Foundation, Sarah’s mission is to make a difference in the lives of kids who struggle, like Rio did, with bullying. She believes that giving these children the opportunity to practice Jiu-Jitsu will bring confidence, hope, and healing to them and their families.
