PARAMOUNT, CA — It was nearly 100 degrees in Paramount on Sunday, but that didn’t stop thousands of families from coming out for a very special back-to-school celebration.
The WBC and WBC Cares joined the community for an incredible backpack giveaway, bringing together champions, young fighters, coaches, volunteers and local organizations with one goal — to help children start the new school year with everything they need and a big smile on their faces.
WBC World Super Flyweight Champion Adelaida Ruiz and WBC Continental Americas Champion Joshua Anton were there giving back alongside boxing prospects Sammy Contreras, Abel Alba Jr. and Art Barrera, as well as Coach Daysi Garcia, mental health therapist Melissa Garcia and WBC Cares Ambassador Nancy Rodriguez.
Thanks to the support of TORKLAW, thousands of backpacks and school supplies were provided for children in the community.
And despite the heat, the turnout was amazing.
Families lined up under the hot summer sun as volunteers worked throughout the day handing out backpacks and supplies. The temperature may have been close to 100 degrees, but everyone was there for the kids, and that made the day even more special.
It wasn’t just a backpack giveaway either. It truly felt like a community celebration.
There was music, beautiful Aztec dancers, shoes, clothing and so many things to help children get ready to go back to school. Kids were excited to pick out their backpacks and families were able to enjoy the festivities together.
One of the most beautiful parts of the day was seeing our WBC champions and young fighters interacting with the children.
Boxing is about so much more than what happens inside the ring. Our champions and fighters have a platform, and seeing them use it to give their time and inspire young people is what WBC Cares is all about.
A child may recognize a champion because of the belt around their waist, but moments like these give them the opportunity to see what being a champion really means.
It means giving back.
It means remembering where you came from.
And it means being there for your community.
For many families, getting children ready for a new school year can also be expensive. Backpacks, notebooks, pencils, shoes and new clothes quickly add up. Being able to provide some of those necessities can make a real difference for a family.
That is why events like this are so important.
We are incredibly grateful to TORKLAW for providing the thousands of backpacks and school supplies that made it possible to reach so many children, and to everyone who volunteered their time in the heat to make sure families were taken care of.
A special thank you to Adelaida Ruiz, Joshua Anton, Sammy Contreras, Abel Alba Jr., Art Barrera, Coach Daysi Garcia and Melissa Garcia for showing up for the community and helping make the day memorable for so many children.
Even with temperatures nearing 100 degrees, there were smiles everywhere.
At the end of the day, seeing thousands of children walking away with backpacks, school supplies and excitement for the new school year made every minute in the heat worth it.
This is what community is about.
This is what giving back is about.
And this is what WBC Cares is about — bringing the boxing family together to make a difference, one child and one community at a time.
Photo credit:
Christian Rodríguez
