Boxing 
John Bray Boxing Foundation Teams up with City of Orange Cove for Grand Opening of Orange Cove Boxing Club
The John Bray Boxing Foundation in conjuction with the City of Orange Cove held the Grand Opening of the Orange Cove Boxing Club along with a free youth boxing clinic in an effort to help the community in preventing and combating gang violence while promoting discipline and academic success among school-age students. The special guest was world class boxing trainer and California Boxing Hall of Famer John Bray who made the long trip from Los Angeles.
In November of 2009, Jerry Gonzalez, the Chief Executive Officer of the John Bray Boxing Foundation, made a presentation to the Orange Cove City Council asking for assistance in opening a boxing club for the youth in the city as they were experiencing major gang problems. The Orange Cove City Council were all pleased and offered to assist.
A facility as well as funds for equipment was made available by the City of Orange Cove and the John Bray Boxing Foundation assisted with the purchase of equipment through Everlast Worldwide Inc. as well as the organization of the boxing club. The intent of the Orange Cove Boxing Club is to assist at-risk students from becoming involved in gang activity and offer them a variety of educational and physical options from tutoring to the sport of boxing.
Both organizations arranged this free youth boxing clinic because of the issues concerning kids that are of crucial importance to the community.
Children and young adults face many temptations every day, whether it is drugs, gangs or peer pressure. The Orange Cove Boxing Club wants to provide these promising young men and women with an alternative where they can feel at home and escape the pressures they have to deal with on a daily basis.
The clinic kicked off with special guests speaking to the participants about life skills and attitude development. These guests consisted of staff from the John Bray Boxing Foundation, the Orange Cove City Council which included Mayor Victor P. Lopez, Mayor Pro-Tempore Glenda Hill, Council Member Esther Gonzalez, Council Member Gilbert Garcia, Council Member Bertha Del Bosque, Police Chief Frank Steenport and John Bray.
After the special guests spoke, the boxing clinic commenced and participants were shown different boxing techniques on heavy bags, speed bags, double end bags and foot work. The clinic wrapped up with a free raffle and kids were given various gifts from our sponsors.
After catching up with John Bray after the grand opening, he had the following to say about the event: "I was very pleased with the turnout of the event. The City of Orange Cove has a strong community and that showed as the City Council as well as the Police Chief and all the parents showing up for the event. They really care about their community and it showed. If people in cities were more like the city of Orange Cove, the world would be a better place."
The John Bray Boxing Foundation would like to thank the Orange Cove City Council, City Manager Alan Bengyel and Police Chief Frank Steenport for their willingness to give back to the community.
We would also like to graciously thank the following sponsors for making this event a reality: Everlast Worldwide Inc., Powerade, Convicted Artists, Visual Impact Stunt Equipment Company, Remetee Clothing, the Tournament of Contenders, Tapia Escobar Construction, H & S Trucking and Foothill Auto Truck and Ag Parts.
If you would like to donate to or for additional information on the John Bray Boxing Foundation, please visit www.johnbrayboxingfoundation.org or contact Jerry Gonzalez at (559) 643-9313.
