More People Support Youth Boxing BY FRED B. BLOCK, GUEST COLUMNIST Published on: September 17, 2006 I would like the members of our community to learn about the meaningful support the non-profit Yuma County Youth Boxing Association is starting to receive from a growing number of individuals from Yuma. Included is the volunteer support to help make our new training center home a reality at 230 E. 10th St. — the entrance is located on Wellington off 1st Avenue. This building is a spacious well-insulated cooling warehouse, the use of which is being donated by Frank Amavisca. Nicque Ashby of M.A. Nutrition has volunteered to set up a program for our athlete boxers. In addition, Martin Armijo, a State Farm Insurance agent, is being welcomed to our auxiliary board as well as Nicque Ashby. We are now encouraging fraternal organizations, businesses and private individuals to step forward with financial support by sending in donations. I am available to bring our message, including an informative DVD which our youngest board member, Eric Sawyer, has produced. During the last 7-1/2 years, YCYBA’s Olympic-style boxing program has reached many youngsters. These children otherwise would have no other place to develop self-confidence, self-esteem, respect for others and themselves and be able to develop themselves along a positive path to maturation in a healthy, highly-disciplined, clean Olympic sport. I am thankful that more of Yuma welcomes an opportunity to support us. We are volunteers who help to keep kids “off the streets” and in the gym while being mentored by our volunteer USA Boxing certified coaches. I am also saddened that our city government which represents the community doesn’t see the value in supporting us. Our Sept. 7 board of director’s meeting was held the very next evening after the Yuma City Council voted 5-2 to not consider us worthy of emergency funding. Contrary to the gloom and doom one might expect, many positives were discussed which included the volunteers who wished to tutor our boxer athletes at our new spacious facility. We will be capable of having computers and educational tools necessary to improve our young boxer athletes’ academic skills to go along with a well-conditioned body. I think everyone knows that the city council is transitory while our youth development program will, with the support of you, the readers of The Sun, continue to grow and flourish while turning young lives around. Our program offers an alternative to the prospect of a life which may be wasted by the poor choices that young people often make, which includes gang involvement, drug use and other criminal activities. Because of this, YCYBA is worthy of broad-based support. We are not a “failed program” as Councilman Paul Johnson stated at the council meeting. We (YCYBA) will be here for many years to come while serving our community. Failed programs do not expand and welcome greater numbers to learn America’s martial art as we are doing. I invite him, as well as all council members, to make a donation to our award-winning organization. Our new quarterly newsletter will keep Yuma informed about the exciting developments at YCYBA. The youth attending our program have dreams of representing America at a future Olympics. They want to respectfully represent the USA and won’t likely forget the fine community support which has made possible their dream a reality. Keep tuned to Channel YCYBA. Our Ringside Challenges are lots of fun. Our kids provide non-stop action while exhibiting their skills and conditioning learned and earned at our after-school program. Clubs from California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah often participate in USA Boxing sanctioned competition here. You’ll know about our next Ringside Challenge YCYBA is hosting. Perhaps, the city officials will finally accept our invitation to attend and become informed. Please help us help the kids. YCYBA is requesting donations to be sent to: YCYBA, PMB 251, 1107 S. 5th Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364-3801. If you have computers, office equipment or gym equipment (including mirrors, rubber flooring, etc.) to donate, please call 1-928-919-0346. We are a nonprofit charitable organization and your contribution is tax-deductible. Fred B. Block is president of the Yuma County Youth Boxing Association Inc. © Copyright 2006 YumaSun.com