The Courier-News has an article about a charity boxing event:
Heading into its third year, the charity boxing event staged by the Aurora chapter of the National Latino Peace Officers Association has moved to a larger venue in its effort to raise scholarship money for a local student.
The scholarship itself is a big one: Two full years at Waubonsee Community College or Elgin Community College for the recipient to obtain an associate’s degree.
All that, and plenty of first responder pride, will be on the line Sunday at East Aurora High School during the Third Annual Tuition Knock Out which begins with 15 amateur fights put on by Jesse “The Law” Torres Boxing Club, and culminates with eight exhibition matches featuring police and fire personnel from Aurora, Elgin and other suburbs.
Aurora Police Sgt. Alfredo Dean, the National Latino Peace Officers Association chapter president, said the organization shifted from awarding multiple smaller scholarships to providing a full ride in order to maximize a deserving student’s opportunity.
For Dean, the perfect scenario would mean that student doesn’t have to spend a penny of their own money to further their education. Cristina Martinez received full tuition to attend ECC from the money raised during last year’s event, Dean said. Tuition Knock Out has awarded a total of $15,000 in scholarship money since 2012. Last year’s event, which packed boxing fans and members of the local law enforcement community into LaSierra De Aurora, raised $20,000, according to Dean.
Of course, it would be tough to raise money at a boxing event without a few punches being thrown. This year’s main event is a showdown between Aurora Police Investigator Erik Swastek and Aurora Fire Lt. Jeremy Allway that will likely award intracity bragging rights. The lone Tuition Knock Out veteran is Aurora Alderman Richard Irvin, who lost by judges’ decision in a hard-fought bout last year.
Tuition Knock Out Event is at East Aurora High School Sunday. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. with 15 amateur fights scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Exhibition bouts are set to begin at 5 p.m.
The exhibition fight card includes: Dave Sharp (Woodstock Police) vs. Eric Waitrovich (Fox River Grove Police) Eric Echevaria (Elgin Police) vs. Dan Henry (Woodstock Police) Greg Christoffel (Aurora Police) vs. Raul Rodriguez (Melrose Park Police) Lorena Hernandez (Aurora Police) vs. Heather Robinson (Elgin Police) Miriam Uribe (Elgin Police) vs. Tricia Malone (Cary Police) Richard Irvin (Aurora Alderman) vs. Juan Reyna (Aurora Township Trustee) Al Young (Elgin Police) vs. Steve Brandt (Bartlett Fire) and Erik Swastek (Aurora Police) vs. Jeremy Allway (Aurora Fire).
Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. VIP seating is available for $50. Tickets can be purchased by visiting https://ticketriver.com/event/13048. Learn more about the NLPOA scholarship at http://www.nlpoa.com/?Aurora.
thanks Dan
