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In the spring of 2001, Gang Unit Officers, Nathan Reando, James Carmody and Sgt. Stephen Roche began the Worcester Police Gang Unit Boxing program. We initiated this program in order to offer at risk and inner city youth of Worcester and opportunity to interact with police in a positive, safe and mutually respectful environment. With the cooperation of the Boys and Girls Club of Worcester on Ionic Avenue, members of the Gang Unit would go to the boys and girls club three times a week and train the youths, both boys and girls, in the art and discipline of boxing. Within this framework, the youths, and police would forge personal relationships, lines of communication, and trust, thus breaking down the barriers of mistrust and miscommunication that have existed between youths, gangs and the police for far to long. |
On May 1st, 2003 the Worcester Police Gang Unit Boxing program hosted the first annual "Give Kids A Fightin' Chance" Charity Boxing Event. The success of the event far exceeded our expectations, but the real winners that night were the deserving kids of the Boys and Girls Club. Their donations enabled us to raise approximately $50,000 which was used to purchase, and deliver, new and much needed equipment for not only the boxing program at the Boys and Girls Club, but for many other programs within the organization. These programs include basketball, swimming, arts and crafts, as well as events that occur throughout the year. We needed a U-Haul truck to deliver all of the equipment to the club and the response we received from the kids was overwhelming. It was Christmas in June! |
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In Subsequent years we were able to increase the money raised each year through the overwhelming support of local business and the community at large. The donations enabled us to expand our programs to even more at risk youth to include a three week G.A.N.G. (Gang Awareness for the Next Generation) Summer camp and sponsor several amateur Boys Club fighters to travel and compete in the Golden Gloves and Silver Mittens tournaments across the Country. We were also able to provide supplies for the Ionic Ave., Plumley Village and Great Brook Valley Boys and Girls Club. In an attempt to give back to the community, we have hosted a yearly outdoor boxing event at East Park that was free to the public including admission and food |
Without your generosity and contributions, these programs would not be able to survive. We would like to thank you, in advance, for your continued support of theses worthwhile programs. |
