San Rafael, CA – The Marin County Probation Department has collaborated with the Canal Welcome Center in San Rafael to establish the first-of-its-kind Canal Friday Night Boxing program. The opening reception and registration event is set for 6-9 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the Albert J. Boro Community Center, 50 Canal Street, San Rafael.
The boxing program was seen as a strong opportunity to make a positive impression in the Canal neighborhood.Canal neighborhood residents and stakeholders first requested the creation of a boxing program at least eight years ago. The Probation Department, seeing a strong opportunity to make a positive impression in the Canal community, decided to co-sponsor the program by purchasing the boxing equipment. The program at the Boro Community Center will provide fitness, recreational and mentorship activities for some of the most vulnerable youths living in the area, including some young women who are interested in an all-woman team.
The Canal Friday Night Boxing is a training program with a mission to serve transitional-age youths and other underserved students between the ages of 8 and 26 primarily in the Canal neighborhood. If the participation is strong on Friday nights throughout 2018, there is hope to expand it to additional nights.
Those scheduled to attend the opening reception are Marin County Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, San Rafael Mayor Gary Phillips, San Rafael Police Chief Diana Bishop, County Probation Chief Mike Daly, and former and current professional boxers Iris Contreras, Paul Nave, Ralph McCoy, Dalia Gomez, Eric Blake, Fernando Caro, Filemon Contreras, Homer Hall and promoter Michael Bazan.
If you’re interested in volunteering, donating or obtaining general information about the Canal Friday Night Boxing program, please contact David Escobar at 415-526-2486, extension 304, or email at descobar@cwcenter.org.