Downtown Boxing Gym Receives Grant for Rock Climbing Wall

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan has awarded grants to 33 local organizations, including the Downtown Boxing Gym, from endowment funds created to carry on Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.’s legacy of giving. We are truly grateful for this opportunity to install new equipment and expand our programming.

Our after-school academic and athletic program is about to reach new heights thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. The Downtown Boxing Gym was awarded the grant via an endowment fund which honors the legacy of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., the late owner of the Buffalo Bills, whose foundation is charged with making a positive difference in communities across Southeast Michigan and Western New York. His passions included caregiving, design and access, and youth sports. The funds will be used to build a boulder climbing system in our gym and implement related programming.

“This system will help our students build confidence and self-esteem and push them outside of their comfort zones. It’s also a great workout,” said Jessica Hauser. “Our kids will be encouraged to reach higher and try harder and they’ll see first-hand what they’re able to achieve by doing so. We are excited about this opportunity and thankful for the support.”

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a full-service philanthropic organization leading the way to positive change in our region. As a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations, the foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefitting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development, and civic affairs.
“We are delighted to see the diversity of organizations receiving grants from the Wilson Legacy Funds this year,” said Mariam C. Noland, President of the Community Foundation. “Spanning across all the seven counties of southeast Michigan, the grantee’s projects will provide unique opportunities to the region’s residents, as well as create positive impacts on their respective communities.”