Following his tenure on Community Board 3, David McWater, a former chairperson of the East Village board, has been involved for the past couple of years in boxing, as an agent and manager. He’s been working with pro fighters, but has also come in contact with many amateur programs, as well.
One amateur program that he’s particularly excited about is the nonprofit Soul City Boxing Club in Toledo, Ohio.
Last Saturday night, in Reno, Nevada, one young boxer who trains at Soul City, Charles Conwell, 18, scored a victory to clinch a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the middleweight, 165-pound spot. Conwell, who graduates high school in May, has been boxing for seven years.
“I’ve been talking to Charles’s family for sometime about representing him when the time comes,” McWater said, “and through them, I was introduced to Soul City and just floored by how great their program is. I have clients in Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit, so I’m right there all the time.”
McWater is a big booster of the Soul City program, as he explained in a fundraising letter for it that he sent out to friends and associates last week.
“There are so many great programs that are really doing wonderful things for kids and keeping them away from street life!” he wrote.
“Many of you know about the troubles Detroit has had recently. I’m sad to say that Toledo and Flint (which are both just outside of Detroit) have been hit even worse. The economy is horrible and both cities seem to be in just a complete free fall. In the midst of this, Soul City has developed a program not just for boxing but also for education and health. Children attending the program are even fed hot meals every day.
“I’ve been involved in a lot of athletic-oriented charities, most notably the Lower East Gauchos baseball team, and this program is one of the very finest I’ve ever seen!” McWater continued. “And yes, their programs, including boxing, are for females also. In fact, the program last year had the No. 1-ranked female amateur under 16 years old in the world!”
Right now, Soul City is in the middle of an end-of-year fundraising drive, and needs to drum up $7,500 to get to the world tournament for 15-to-18-year-olds this Jan. 5.
To contribute to Soul City Boxing Club, go to www.paypal.me/SoulCityBoxingClub .
