As part of his test to earn a black belt from Armstrong’s Taekwondo, Freeland resident Nicholas Armstrong elected to raise funds for the two Useless Bay Colony houses lost in the suspected arson case in early July.

He raised $1,000 total, according to father and owner Robert Armstrong. Both houses were a total loss following the fire.

Students at Armstrong’s Taekwondo in Clinton are required to do a project that gives back to the community to become a first-degree black belt. The idea is to build leadership and instill philanthropic qualities.

Armstrong elected to raise money by hosting a wooden board “break-a-thon” at the Whidbey Island Fair, which allowed people to donate in three ways: give to Armstrong’s project by simply donating, by picking a board for him to break or by breaking a board themselves.

According to Robert Armstrong, the project was entirely Nicholas Armstrong’s idea.

Armstrong is one of 10 students who tested for their black belts on Aug. 4.