By Edward Pevos, MLive
July 20, 2016
DETROIT, MI – Rachael Ray has done it again. The talk show host has surprised Detroit’s Downtown Boxing Gym for a second time.
The first surprise:
Ray first paid the gym in Detroit a visit around Thanksgiving 2015, bringing along boxing great Evander Holyfield and retired undefeated boxer Laila Ali. You can see pictures of their visit in the photo gallery above.
The three surprised Downtown Boxing Gym coach Khali Sweeney and some of the kids with a renovated lunchroom and kitchen designed by HGTV’s John Gidding, complete with new appliances and furniture. Rachael also gave a cooking lesson in the new space. The gym also received $25,000 from ConAgra Foods.
Gym update on the show:
Rachael invited coach Sweeney and executive director of the gym, Jessica Hauser to join her in the studio on “The Rachael Ray Show,” set to air Wed., July 20, 2016. Some of the students joined via Skype.
Khali and Jessica updated Rachael on how the gym used the $25,000 donation, and one of the students, whose story was featured in November’s show, updated Rachael on her plans to attend college in the fall to study physical therapy and sports medicine.
More surprises:
Rachael has more surprises in store for Khali, Jessica, and the kids, which are being kept a secret until the show airs.
How you can watch:
The show will air in Metro Detroit on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at 2:00pm on WDIV-TV, Channel 4, 10am on WJRT in Flint, 2pm on WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Noon on WILX in Lansing, Noon on WGTU in Traverse City and 10am on WBKB in Alpena.
About the gym:
Downtown Boxing Gym is located on Verner and Mt. Elliott. Detroit native Khali Sweeney founded the gym which uses boxing as a tool to get kids on the right track with school. The gym has seen 100% of its participants graduate high school, with 98% going on to college.