It’s that time again! Muskegon Boxing Club, a 501c non-profit, is kicking off our fundraising season. MBC was started in Muskegon in 1938 by Pete Petroski while training Kenny Lane. Our club has been in continuous operation ever since then. While we have been in multiple locations over that time, the focus has remained the same. We exist to help and nurture at-risk kids in our area. We have been in our current location, thanks to the city of Muskegon, for almost 15 years. While the city helps, it can’t provide for all of our needs throughout the year. We keep our fees at the lowest level possible to remain available for those with limited resources. In many cases, we scholarship a kid when the family can’t afford the membership. The fee for each child is $155 for the year: $80 is the fee for the gym, and $75 is the registration with USA Boxing. MBC is a sanctioned member of the USA Sports governing body. That guarantees that all participants, from around the country, follow the same rules and standards for competition. At present, we have between 50 and 60 kids each year coming through our program. While most will not turn into professional boxers, they do compete from local to national events. When they do leave, it is in a better place than when they started. That includes responsibility and respect for others. We hold scholastic achievement at a very high level; we are also supportive in helping the kids learn to learn. If someone is having trouble with a given subject, we pair them with another that can help them with it. All in all, we provide a place where the kids can learn and grow, keeping them off the streets and becoming productive members of society.

Our present needs are for new uniforms, equipment, and general supplies for competition. Travel to and from events eats up a lot of our budget. As an example, we take our team to other gyms in the area for practice and competitions. When we take a simple trip to Grand Rapids with a couple of the kids, it costs the club approximately $150. Doing this once a month is $1,800 a year, just in travel for one practice. Add in the other gyms we travel to, and you can see our budget melts pretty quick. Boxing gloves, $50 per pair; headgear, $65 each; groin protectors, $50. These items must be replaced at least every other year. Much of the actual equipment wears out over the course of a year. I could itemize each item and share more of the costs, but suffice it to say, $80 per child does not cover it by a long shot.

We have set an optimistic goal of $10,000 for this year. That will cover our overall operating cost of about $7,000 and allow $3,000 for next year's fundraising event. Which brings us to the point of this ask. The event we hold each year has a cost of about $3,000. It is a boxing show we put on in the Smith Ryerson Park Pavilion. We do not charge for this event; rather, we solicit donations. The event is designed specifically for our neighborhood awareness and to enable folks that otherwise can’t afford to take the family to other events. Average admission for most events is $20 per person. Family of four, $80. While our event has been moderately successful, it doesn’t support the club's needs for the year. This year we are trying to get a head start with early preparation and advertising to increase the return on investment. The $3,000 that the event costs include sanctioning fees, insurance, ringside doctors, officials, and referees. Then we add food and concession items. Bottom line is we need help and support from our community to keep this program alive. This will be the third year of our event, and we want to make it a good one. Our show takes place in September; now is the time to promote and prepare to make it the best so far! We need your help to make this a permanent part of our city’s ongoing history and a legacy source for our kids' support. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider how much you can help!