Boys & Girls Clubs Of America To Honor Boxing Champion Evander Holyfield At Annual Great Futures Gala

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) will honor 5-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and BGCA alum, Evander Holyfield, with the Champion of Youth Award at their Great Futures Gala on November 4, 2015 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.   BGCA alum, actor and comedian JB Smoove, hosts.  Andrew R. Tennenbaum and Tim Wennes, co-chair.  Other BGCA alumni, Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee, actor Martin Sensmeier and former NBA player and FOX Sports anchor Jim Jackson, will be featured in the program. 

BGCA National Spokesperson Denzel Washington will present the 2015 Champion of Youth Award to Evander Holyfield, the only 5-time World Heavyweight Champion.  Growing up in Atlanta, he took boxing lessons as a child at a local Boys & Girls Club.  In 1984, he won a National Golden Gloves Championship and went on to receive a Bronze Medal as part of the U.S. Olympic team.  Following the Olympics, Holyfield turned professional, winning the World Boxing Association (WBA) World Cruiserweight title in 1986 and his first Heavyweight Champion of the World title in 1990, defeating James "Buster" Douglas.  Following his defeat to Riddick Bowe in 1992, he recaptured the title when he defeated Rowe in a 1993 rematch.  After overcoming health challenges, Holyfield returned to the ring, defeating Mike Tyson in 1996. Holyfield attributes much of his success to the support and encouragement he received as a child.  As a way to give back to the community, he created the Holyfield Foundation.  Holyfield strives to strengthen the lives of youth and their families by establishing and funding programs dedicated to their athletic, academic and spiritual development.

For more than 100 years, BGCA (greatfutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. More than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Learn more at bgca.org/facebook and bgca.org/twitter. For ticket information, contact [email protected].

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America

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