Fundraising raffle held today closes out successful year
Christmas will be arriving a little early today, as the World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF) will be choosing two lucky winners of their special fundraising raffle spearheaded by Board Member Frank Martinez.
The two names picked out of the hat will each receive tickets to the upcoming Timothy Bradley-Lamont Peterson fight at Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage, California and a complimentary hotel stay courtesy of the WBHF.
The nonprofit group held a similar drawing in September, with the lucky winner receiving a trip to the Mayweather-Marquez fight weekend in Vegas. Since 1979, the West Coast gang has held charity functions, fundraising events and their annual banquet to honor the year’s newest inductees.
Made up of former boxers, current trainers, referees, judges, cornermen, journalists, promoters, and business men and women, their goal is to honor past and current champions of the sport, encourage and recognize both amateur and pro boxing and to bring a positive awareness to the sweet science. “Where Champions Live Forever” is the WBHF’s motto.
Current President Mando Muñiz held a gathering yesterday in the San Gabriel Valley to announce new 2010 plans already in the works. After a successful Banquet of Champions, held in October, the former Olympian fighter says they are planning a holiday dinner for his board and Executive Committee, a celebrity golf tournament in the spring, and their gala awards dinner in the fall of 2010.
Their annual golf tourney will be held on March 12 in Montebello and next year will be their 31st Annual Banquet of Champions, with a new class of inductees being ushered into the hall and honored by both their peers and fans.
At yesterday’s meeting, I captured this snapshot at the very end. Most of the Board of Directors had gone on their way to a nearby pro boxing show, a “Battle of the Badges” event in Ventura and of course, holiday errands, but here’s just a few of the dedicated individuals of the WBHF.
Look for many more happenings from the nonprofit boxing organization in the new year, and congratulations to the two new prize winners that
will be chosen later today!
Photo by Michele Chong: President and former fighter Mando Muñiz and some of the WBHF Board