Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program in Detroit hopes new van will help them do more -- Asks for your vote Gym teaches kids about responsibility, commitment
DETROIT – The Downtown Boxing Gym does more than just teach kids how to box.
They teach real life skills and lessons about responsibility and commitment. There are 1,300 children on the waiting list.
Khali Sweeney is the founder of the gym. It’s a nonprofit that provides high-risk children structure, tutoring and some lessons in the boxing ring.
Sweeney said they own one van and rely on leases and grants for the eight other vans they operate. If they got another van, they could bring even more kids into the program.
The gym is hoping a new van will help them do even more. The gym is a finalist in the Mercedes Small Business Impact Contest. If they win, they would be gifted a new Sprinter van.
Voting runs through Oct. 23.
Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.
About the Authors Jamie Edmonds headshot
Jamie anchors sports coverage on Local 4 News Saturdays at 6 & 11 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m., in addition to hosting Sports Final Edition.
Kayla Clarke headshot
Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.
Plowing Metro Detroit roads: What took so long? ▶ 1:13
Plowing Metro Detroit roads: What took so long?
Think twice before saying 'I'm not hurt' ▶ 0:32
Think twice before saying 'I'm not hurt'
Machado gifted Trump Nobel Peace Prize in White House meeting ▶ 1:14
Machado gifted Trump Nobel Peace Prize in White House meeting
Family: CPS failed 5-year-old Ethan Belcher ▶ 0:44
Family: CPS failed 5-year-old Ethan Belcher
Carlos Eats Detroit at Pho Lucky in Detroit ▶ 2:09
Carlos Eats Detroit at Pho Lucky in Detroit
Wayne County vows better snow plans after chaos ▶ 0:45
Wayne County vows better snow plans after chaos
Why did Metro Detroit get so much snow? ▶ 2:08
Why did Metro Detroit get so much snow?
Shawnte Passmore checking road conditions on Jan. 15 ▶ 1:35
Shawnte Passmore checking road conditions on Jan. 15
Road conditions in Oakland County on Jan. 15 ▶ 1:38
Road conditions in Oakland County on Jan. 15
Winter weather advisory for Southeast Michigan! ▶ 0:39
Winter weather advisory for Southeast Michigan!
New speed camera rules for Michigan drivers ▶ 0:21
New speed camera rules for Michigan drivers
Belleville woman still living like this year after fire ▶ 0:48
Belleville woman still living like this year after fire
Trump flips off Ford worker at Rouge Complex visit ▶ 1:16
Trump flips off Ford worker at Rouge Complex visit
President Trump visits Detroit Tuesday ▶ 1:51
President Trump visits Detroit Tuesday
Detroit shooting, stabbing leaves community in shock ▶ 1:19
Detroit shooting, stabbing leaves community in shock
High Detroit taxes: Key questions for homebuyers ▶ 1:18
High Detroit taxes: Key questions for homebuyers
Chase ends with deputies killing unarmed driver ▶ 0:34
Chase ends with deputies killing unarmed driver
President Trump arrives at Detroit Metro Airport ▶ 0:45
President Trump arrives at Detroit Metro Airport
Zimmerman's reopens after viral pepper-spraying ▶ 0:59
Zimmerman's reopens after viral pepper-spraying
Video captures Detroit shooting suspect in action ▶ 0:24
Video captures Detroit shooting suspect in action
Mattel launches first Barbie with autism ▶ 0:22
Mattel launches first Barbie with autism
Michigan ties to U.S. Olympic figure skating team ▶ 1:30
Michigan ties to U.S. Olympic figure skating team
911 call from Sherrone Moore's wife after firing ▶ 1:58
911 call from Sherrone Moore's wife after firing
Maria Scott's quick thinking prevents school tragedy ▶ 1:08
Maria Scott's quick thinking prevents school tragedy
Detroit Mayor Sheffield formally takes oath of office ▶ 3:26
Detroit Mayor Sheffield formally takes oath of office
Previous photo Next photo