Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
In an effort to help raise funds and support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Joliet, the city of Joliet hosted a ‘Joliet fight night’ with 12 different boxing matches that took place throughout the evening.
“Supporting the Boys and Girls Club is always something positive, and we have a lot of young boxers here who are learning a lot as well,” said Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk, “It’s a win on both sides for the club and for the young fighters, is just shows how well our community does in supporting these functions.”
The Boys and Girls Clubs of America is a non-profit national organization that provides after school care and programs for young people.
Boxers go punch-for-punch in Joliet fundraiser. (Photo by Ryan Ostry)
During the Joliet fight night, a series of 12 matches took place starting with children below the age of eight, going up to semi-professional boxers.
“A lot of the kids we serve live in homeless shelters,” said Kahlil Diab, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Joliet. “A lot also come from the foster care system, so when they come to our club they find a place where they can feel at home so we can help them find great futures.
“It’s a great partnership that we have with the mayor. “Amateur boxing is making a comeback around here in Illinois and especially in the Midwest, so we’re trying to put a showcase on for the people while also raising money for a great cause.”
For Diab, the biggest takeaway he said he wanted for people to have coming to the fundraiser was to understand the true reason why the fundraiser was happening, for the kids who might no be so fortunate.
“This is truly for kids that might not have an outlet at home, or any kind of supervision or resources,” he said. “Boxing is just what we do as a national organization, we’ve had several boxers come through Boys and Girls Club across the nation.
“A couple of those guys have been big names like Evander Holyfield, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, all of these guys have come through Boys and Girls Club so that’s where the connection is.”
The Boys and Girls Club of Joliet, it started in 1951 and has grown exponentially since.
Today, the club serves more than 1,200 children between the ages of 6-18.
The Boys and Girls Club of Joliet is $30 for a years admission, providing two healthy meals per day, amenities and they have approximately 500 kids a day during the summer session.