Proceeds will support programs for teens with severe medical conditions
DETROIT – Wish Upon A Teen is proud to host A Fighting Chance, a premier boxing fundraiser, at Bert’s Warehouse on April 29 at 7:00 p.m.
The semi-formal evening will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, raffles, music and six Vegas-style boxing matches, including a faceoff between celebrity boxers Dr. Darrius of WJLB radio and former WBO light middleweight champion Bronco McKart.
The funds raised from A Fighting Chance will provide resources and opportunities to teens with severe life-limiting medical conditions through Wish Upon A Teen programs, including its flagship program, Design My Room ®, as well as other signature programs such as Spa Day, An Evening of Dreams Prom and family outings.
“Our fundraising goal for A Fight Chance is $100,000,” said Wish Upon A Teen’s Executive Director Nancy Sovran. “We have been doing a record number of Design My Rooms® and cannot do it without the generosity of the community. We want to be able to reach every teen who is facing a serious life-threatening illness.”
Wish Upon A Teen has selected the Detroit Tigers Baseball Organization as the recipient of the 2017 Community Champion Award. The award will be given out to Sam Abrams, Manager of Player Relations, Youth and Sports Programs for the Tigers. In the past two years, the Tigers have hosted more than 1,000 teens and their families to games, and have even hosted families in their suite. The Tigers have also been active partners in our Design My Room program, donating countless items for teens’ rooms, including for a room Anibel Sanchez and his wife designed at Beaumont Children’s Hospital.
Wish Upon A Teen has held an annual fundraising event since its inception in 2011, but this is the first boxing-themed event the organization is hosting. Board member and owner of Jabs Gym, David Tessler, has played an integral role in creating an authentic boxing event.
“Bert’s Warehouse is an iconic Motown venue and is the perfect spot for this charity boxing night,” Tessler said. “There will be six boxing matches, including a celebrity match, with professional and amateur fighters.”
Tickets for $50 regular admission and $150 VIP can be purchased here:
http://www.wishuponateen.org/a-fighting-chance
Wish Upon a Teen is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing resources, time and opportunities to teenagers with severe life-limiting medical conditions. Through creative, social, and educational opportunities, our goal is to normalize their environment and rebuild their self-esteem as they transition to adulthood.
Wish Upon a Teen’s founder, Michelle Soto, has an extensive background as a Child Life Specialist caring for children and teenagers. Through this experience, she learned that the particular needs of teens are often overlooked within the medical community. The combination of normal teenage stressors along with the impact of a severe life-limiting medical condition or injury can make the transition to adulthood extremely challenging. Wish Upon a Teen provides ongoing support, age- appropriate programs and a variety of fun events to teenagers throughout the United States.
For more information, please visit. www.wishuponateen.org
Jabs Gym, founded in 2013, has two state-of-the-art training and group class facilities in Metro Detroit. Founded by local Detroit Middleweight boxer Willie Fortune and local entrepreneur/yoga teacher David Tessler, Jabs combines elements of boxing and yoga to create their trademarked BOYO classes along with Kickboxing, Bootcamps and Circuit Boxing Classes. Jabs also works with local youth through their amateur boxing program and is home to several professional boxers.