Organization Profile

Yuma County Youth Boxing Association
1107 S. 5th Avenue
PMB #251
Yuma, AZ 85364

Phone / Fax (928) 373-0653
Email:

ORGANIZATION PROFILE

Our mission is as follows:

An intervention/prevention program for youth, which uses the sport of amateur boxing as an alternative to anti-social behavior. Through the re-establishment of the extended family, Yuma County Youth Boxing Association, Inc. provides youth with the opportunity to become successful in all walks of life. Yuma County Youth Boxing Association, Inc. strives to enhance and/ or develop a positive self image in each individual. By doing so, the youths provide themselves with tools necessary for continued success.

List of Officers and Board Members:
Fred B. Block, President- a father, business leader, corporate president of 39 years, professional musician
Cesar Casillas, Vice-President-a father, well known local, state media personality, President of Rotary Club of San Luis, AZ, executive board member of Arts commission
Joy Mueller, Chief financial officer, a mother, secretary, bookkeeper

Executive Board Members:
Hedi A. Block, Executive
Steve Mueller, father, date grower
Pastor Daniel Martinez, father, and clergyman
Eleanor Martinez, mother, social activist
Dr. Wayne Chiavacci, cardiologist, pediatrician
Mary Shank, foster mother
Ernest Shank, counselor of drug rehabilitation
Eric Sawyer, TV media creative marketing director

Our organization was incorporated as a 501(3)© Arizona corporation on March 22, 1999. It was founded in late February 1999. Our target of recruitment is from families in the Carver area of Yuma as well as other lower income families in the H.A.C.Y. housing units. Children of single parent families are a prime target for our program. The fee is only $50.00 per calendar year. Scholarships are available. Dues are an additional $10 per month for ages 18+. Traditionally, Olympic-Style boxing has always been a sport, which has had a very positive impact to prevent juvenile delinquency as the youth participating re prime targets for inclusion into gang activities including drug use. We have certified over 500 youth as members of USA Boxing, Inc., the National Governing Body of all Olympic-Style Amateur boxing in the U.S.A., headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Our organization has one part-time employee, a monitor. The head coach, a volunteer, is aided by adult volunteer mentors drawn from the Greater Yuma area. The mentors must be certified coaches by U.S.A. Boxing, Inc. Our coaches travel on their own time to participate at boxing tournaments in various locations in Phoenix, Tucson, Los Angeles, Oxnard, San Diego, Syracuse, and elsewhere. Travel is necessary in the sport as competition at tournament leads to continuance of the youth in the program.

President, Fred B. Block, a founder of YCYBA, Inc. previously held a similar position at the famed La Colonia Youth Boxing Association, Inc of Oxnard, California 1990-92. La Colonia's program has taken many Oxnard youth off the streets, and produced two Olympians at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. It also produced two World Champions at the professional level. As an 8-year-old organization, we have already established a high profile presence in Greater Yuma and in the field of amateur boxing in the state of Arizona and California. We have a strong structure and are building a dynamic organization, which is having a major impact for gang activity reduction along with lessening drug use and teen pregnancy in Greater Yuma.

YCYBA was named the 2000 #1 sport volunteer organization by the City of Yuma.

Fred & Hedi Block were given "Volunteer of the Year 2003" recognition as by the City of Yuma.

Fred & Hedi Block were presented by the City of Oxnard, California with the "Keys to the City in November 2003.