London, Ont. boxing tournament fundraiser collected $300K for Y.O.U., organizers say – London | 24CA News

A fundraising occasion in London, Ont., final fall aimed toward elevating cash for Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) and its Joan’s Place challenge collected $300,000 from the group, organizers have introduced.

The 2nd Fight to End Homelessness boxing occasion was held in November at RBC Place London, with 32 native entrepreneurs, group leaders and politicians going through off in a sanctioned beginner boxing event in assist of Y.O.U.

On Thursday, Y.O.U. officers had been introduced with a cheque throughout a ceremony exterior the company’s principal constructing on the nook of Richmond and York streets in London’s downtown, throughout from the place Joan’s Place is being constructed.

News of the ultimate tally comes forward of Y.O.U.’s annual breakfast occasion, set to get underway Friday morning. Fight to End beforehand raised $80,000 in 2019 in assist of Y.O.U.’s youth shelter, positioned on Clarke Road within the metropolis’s east finish.

“After raising $80,000 in 2019, our goal was $120,000 this year, with the hopes that we were going to be able to provide the furniture for Joan’s Place for the units that they have there,” stated Brett Lucier, co-founder of Fight to Life and proprietor of Provincial Glass and Mirror, one of many occasion’s many sponsors.

“With the $300,000, we feel very confident that we’re going to be able to do that and a lot more. What it sounds like now is we’ll also be able to furnish appliances and blinds and increased lock systems for the doors, and a lot of other items that we’ll be announcing as they come about.”

When it opens, Joan’s Place can have 39 inexpensive housing items and a youth wellness hub that may provide providers and packages for younger individuals, together with psychological well being, addictions, employment and coaching. Y.O.U. officers say the power will be capable of serve greater than 200 individuals day by day.

Construction started in November on the constructing, named after Joan Smith, a former metropolis councillor and MPP who additionally served as Ontario’s first feminine solicitor basic.

“I was with some other board members as the announcement was being made and we kept watching the tally going up and up and I thought – is there a technology glitch?” stated Terry Gillis, Y.O.U.’s board chair, in an announcement.

“This is such an unimaginable enhance to Joan’s Place and serving to us meet our collective objective of constructing a secure and inexpensive dwelling for youth, younger moms, and mothers-to-be who’re experiencing or are susceptible to experiencing homelessness.

“Once again, the London community outdid itself. And to that we say thanks.”

Lucier says the plan is for Fight to End to be an annual occasion, and work is already within the very early phases for this yr’s event, set to be held in November. Those seeking to take part will be capable of apply beginning in May.

“When Adam (Malamis) and I started Fight to End, it grew from a small seed to what it is now, and it’s really expanded to incorporate the business community within London, and you’ll see a lot of larger name builders and developers that are involved in this event,” he stated.

“One of our major sponsors this year was Drewlo Holdings, and they came through at a major level for us and were a huge part of our last event.”

In an announcement, Jerry Drennan, chief working officer of Drewlo, stated the developer, and others within the metropolis, “understand there’s a need and we want to do our part.”

“Partnering with Fight to End, and seeing our own Carrie O’Brien in the ring, was a great way to continue to give back and support the mission of Joan’s Place.”

Corus Entertainment, dad or mum firm of Global News, was additionally a sponsor by FM96, with Brad Gibb, the station’s longtime program director and on-air voice, going head-to-head towards A.J. O’Connor of Lynn’s Bakery and Deli.

Lucier wouldn’t say who gained the match, noting that, on the finish of the day, there have been no losers.

“There’s only winners, because it’s all going to Youth Opportunities Unlimited.”

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