Chicks in ring to raise funds for boxing club

Mrs. Midwest Galaxy Katie Maskey, center, sells raffle tickets to Kim Fenneken, left, and Tiffany Holdgate during the Chicks for Charity mix at the Toledo Botanical Garden. The event raised funds for a boxing club. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Photo Reprints

At first glance, at least, there's something a little unlikely about a group of 1,800 women raising money for a boxing club.

But that's just what Chicks for Charity did last week at its Chicks Mix '11 fund-raiser at Toledo Botanical Garden. The group raised more than $38,000 for the International Boxing Club near downtown Toledo.

The money will help the boxing club expand its program to get inner city kids off the street, Harry Cummins, the club's founder, said.

"I'm so grateful for Chicks for Charity," he said. "It's a tough battle to get funding and keep the doors open."

Jackie Zureich, a Chicks for Charity spokesman, said the goal for the event was $40,000. About 500 people attended the fund-raiser, which included a raffle and other revenue raisers. General admission was $37; "junior chicks," women under the age of 20, paid $20.

She said Chicks for Charity has raised $360,000 since it began in 2006 with a goal of helping organizations that are less well-known. The boxing club was a perfect fit.

"It's our sponsor charity this year and next," she said. "I think once people realize what it does and just how amazing it is, we're going to raise even more funds for them."

Mr. Cummins learned about Chicks for Charity at a fund-raising workshop at the Main Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library. He then applied to the group online through its Web site.

"Most of my time is spent applying for grants and looking for sponsors," he said. "This will take some of the pressure off."

With the donation from Chicks for Charity, Mr. Cummins hopes to expand his program from 30 to 50 boys aged eight to 19.

To join, a boy has to box, but the program doesn't require that he steps into the ring with anyone.

The club also has a computer room and classrooms where boys can learn carpentry, electrical work, and plumbing.

"Boxing is the draw. All the kids think they're going to be Muhammad Ali," Mr. Cummins said. "What do they do when they don't? They get out on the street and they end up in a life of crime because they have no skills.

"We want these kids to be champions in life."