The Cabbagetown Youth Centre (CYC) was the first recipient of a new Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) initiative designed to help out at-risk communities.
The UFC Community Works initiative will see the sporting body donate a total of $129,000 to community-based organizations for mixed martial arts (MMA) equipment, with the first $10,000 going to the CYC.
UFC director of Canadian operations Tom Wright and MMA fighter Sam Stout dropped by the CYC on Tuesday, April 26 to announce the plan.
"Our sport is a very grassroots and community-oriented sport and we know that when a community comes together, they do good work," Wright said. "The Cabbagetown Youth Centre has done tremendous work in the community of St. James Town and we couldn't think of a better place to launch (the initiative.)"
The CYC was created when the old Cabbagetown Boxing Club expanded its programming. The centre offers a variety of after-school, leadership, mentoring and other programs to at-risk youth in the community.
Wright said he and Stout were happy to share their expertise with the youth on hand for the launch event, adding that mixed martial arts teach more life skills than fighting skills.
"Our fighters are good role models for things like discipline, respect, time management, fitness and sportsmanship," he said.
CYC executive director Spiros Papathanasakis said his organization has long been a proponent of mixed martial arts because of the skills it promotes. He said the CYC has seen the impact proper training and discipline can have on youngsters who might otherwise feel alienated and make poor life choices.
"The kids who go to our classes and go to school, they're not involved in things like bullying," he said. "Kids who don't do well at school that make a commitment to these programs, they become really great citizens."
The donation comes at an ideal time for the CYC. In the final stages of a million-dollar renovation, the organization was dealt a blow when flooding destroyed some of the CYC's mats and other equipment.
"Any help we can get with equipment or programming, we'll take, and I think the UFC program's off to a great start and is doing a great job of supporting communities," said CYC spokesperson Monique Lisi.
Lisi added the equipment will be useful for a variety of fitness programs offered at the CYC.
She said she hopes the CYC is able to continue its relationship with the UFC.
"We hope we can have some fighters come out and train with our youth in the future," she said. "I think the door's open for that."
Longtime CYC user Jorshenelle Delizo said she was excited to have the UFC attend the local community centre and noted the donation will provide a boon to the community and was happy to see the CYC - an organization that helped her settle in the area when she first moved to Canada - receive such a generous donation.
"It's good to see that kids are still able to enjoy the community centre I benefited from," she said. "They helped me establish myself in this community and they have a lot of programs for all kids."