A couple of months ago World Boxing Cares received a desperate note from David Vazquez through Athletes for Hope. David, who works with a non-profit called Pedones Heavy Hitters in Stroudsburg, PA, was desperate to find his young boxers new training gear. Pedones Heavy Hitters is an organization that brings in troubled youth from various schools throughout the area and teaches them the importance of hard work and staying clean - free of charge. It's a way to keep these kids off the streets and provide them with constructive activity. When kids first come to Pedones, they usually arrive in jeans and have little desire to train, but over the months they slowly improve. The kids share old, smelly gloves because the facility does not have enough for each child to have their own, and makes them practice with used mats and punching bags that were donated from the local East Stroudsburg University team.

In a last ditch effort, David reached out to Jill Diamond, chair of the World Boxing Cares, a non-profit charitable organization under the guidance of the World Boxing Council. World Boxing Cares sends their world class athletes into youth centers, hospitals and orphanages and brings a message of hope and inspiration to the children and their families, as well as donations for various institutions, like Pedones Heavy Hitters. Jill was touched by David’s story and immediately got to work reaching out to her contacts within the boxing community. Others were equally moved by the Heavy Hitter's mission and purpose. Jill was able to get Everlast to donate boxing gloves, wraps from Reyes, as well as a free clinic put on by one of WBC’s professional trainers, Brian Cohen. As Brian stated, “The kids were great. When I arrived they were very excited. I brought them 8 pairs of new gloves as well as some boxing boots. The kids were so receptive and excited. They were also very respectful. I watched them box. I gave them some pointers. Had a lot of 1 on 1 time with them. They were great."

David and the kids at Pedones Heavy Hitters were extremely grateful for the kindness and generosity showed by Brian Cohen and World Boxing Cares, Everlast and Reyes. When others turned their backs on this small non-profit from Stroudsburg, PA, Jill Diamond saw an opportunity to make a difference. Jill stated, "There is nothing more important that lifting a child up and supporting others that feel the same way. It is not an obligation, it is our privilege."