The Organization
Peninsula Boxing & Fitness, located in Redwood City, California, is a 501 (c) (3) non profit charitable organization dedicated to serving underprivileged or at risk youth as well as adult community members regardless of age, gender, race, creed, color, or sexual orientation. We are committed to making a positive impact in the community by providing youth and young adults from all backgrounds a highly disciplined, well structured after school amateur boxing program while also offering to adult community members a non contact recreational boxing fitness program nights and weekends to address health concerns and quality of life issues.
Established in 2008 as part of a collaborative effort between USA Boxing coaches Nick Bellafatto and Alfonso De Lira, as well as youth advocate Lisa Palmer, our mission is dual in that we focus our time and energy towards positively impacting the community by providing an after school amateur boxing program for youth, as well as a recreational boxing and fitness program for the general public. Our after school amateur boxing program represents a safe haven for youth and young adults and serves as an alternative to running the streets, experimenting with drugs or alcohol, joining gangs, or becoming involved in anti social activities, while our recreational boxing and fitness program serves to address public health concerns and quality of life issues as regards the local adult population. One of our primary organizational goals is to reach out and target groups or individuals who would benefit most from our services such as youth or young adults from low income households, those with troubled backgrounds or a history of aggressive or anti social behavior, those who are overweight or physically inactive, youth who lack parental support or guidance, and individuals with low self esteem or no direction or motivation in life.
We understand that youth are at a critical stage in their lives. By involving youngsters in a well structured, highly disciplined program that is fun and exciting we can make a difference and give them an opportunity to make better choices in life so as to avoid many of the pitfalls that confront them. Through our boxing program we encourage participants to apply themselves and understand that the process by which they develop skills involve many of the same traits or characteristics that will lead to success in life. Qualities such as patience, commitment, determination, passion, desire, resilience, and an ability to recognize and make adjustments when necessary are all part of a recipe for success. We aim to instill in youth and young adults a sense of self worth and belonging and point out that in order to be successful one should not be afraid to fail. Its not about creating great boxers, but creating mentally strong, motivated, more accountable young men and women in order that they become an asset to their family, friends, and community.
Since forming Peninsula Boxing & Fitness we have been joined in our efforts by several other supportive community members who have become corporate board members such as Jeanne Hamel, our current President and an officer of the Redwood City Probation Department, Kevin Brooks, Executive Vice President of Teris, a litigation support company, Corrine Kaddouz, a successful local entrepreneur, Richard Briggs, producer at Electronic Arts Inc., and Rene Trujillo, a Redwood City district recreation coordinator. As board members and program supporters, we all share in the same vision which is to expand our services to all community members regardless of income level. We all agree that finance issues, or lack of awareness regarding our services should not be an obstacle to involvement in our program. By acquiring and maintaining tax exempt status, our organization is able to keep rates affordable, as well as offer free scholarships on a limited basis to those who cannot afford to pay for our services. We assist those in need with registration fee’s and/or medical examination costs, we provide necessary training equipment, and we finance tournament travel and/or accommodations for competitive athletes. We also feature academic development as part of our overall program by offering tutoring services every Monday & Wednesday evening at 6pm with Janaki Tambe who provides services free of charge to students in need of assistance with school related work. Janaki has been tutoring for a number of years and she helps to encourage youth to acheive academic success with her keen insight and experience on a wide variety of subjects. Besides academic development we also bring in guidance counselors to steer youngsters in a positive direction, as well as motivational speakers and professionals to provide information regarding career opportunities. To keep these services available and our operations up and running, we generate revenue from our program services, solicit donations and charitable contributions from individuals and organizations, as well as seek grant money from various state and federal level agencies. In an effort to gain support for our cause and expose our services, board members and volunteers are out in force distributing literature and discussing program benefits with various community members such as local business owners, community center staff, police and probation department personnel, as well as social organizations such as drug treatment and youth guidance centers. It is with dedication, pride, and perseverance that our efforts to help make this community a better place to live will not be in vain.
Training Regimens
All training regimens are designed to engage participants mentally, physically, and spiritually in an effort to build healthy bodies and minds and promote better living. Whatever your background or motivations, we have a fun and effective program for everyone. As a tax exempt organization, no one is turned away for lack of income as we keep rates affordable as well as offer limited free scholarships to those who cannot afford to pay. Whether your goal is to lose weight, relieve stress, get a great workout, compete athletically, or just make a friend, our coaching staff at Peninsula Boxing & Fitness is there to make it happen for you.
The best conditioned athletes in the world are boxers, but you don’t have to be a boxer to get the boxing workout. Peninsula Boxing & Fitness offers the most rounded and well balanced workout you will ever find. We teach the technical skills of boxing in a progressive manner, solidly grounding students in the fundamentals of the sport so as to provide the utmost in cardiovascular fitness, as well as develop strength, speed, and agility at the highest potential levels. No matter your present age or physical condition, our boxing program will sharpen your focus, elevate your determination, give you a sense of accomplishment, and bring you the ultimate in peace of mind through its phenomenal stress reduction aspects that you will find lacking from all other types of workouts. Because a boxing workout utilizes more muscle groups than any other single motion type workout, such as cycling or jogging, it tends to result in fewer repetitive injuries or strains. In an hour of boxing, a 180 pound person can burn more than 500 calories. With a solid fundamental base and a little motivation, you too can receive the full benefits and measurable results our program can provide.
The Facility
Peninsula Boxing & Fitness is a 1700 square foot professional quality facility with wall to wall flooring consisting of high quality, 1″ thick Zebra mats, which helps to reduce shock on the joints as well as allows students to do floor work in total comfort. We host all the necessary training equipment found in a traditional boxing gym to include, Everlast professional super leather training bags from 50-150 lbs. to help individuals develop power, strength, leverage, and timing. Additionally, we feature a line of angle bags and uppercut bags in order to facilitate comprehension and execution of angular striking technique. We have an array of light bags and slip bags as well, which assist individuals in the development and cultivation of hand eye coordination, timing, rhythm, balance, and defensive reaction and maneuverability. Our light bag inventory consists of top professional speed bags with adjustable platforms for students of different heights, varied single double end bags from weighted and non weighted to Mexican double double end style bags to allow for body & head combination striking. Along with open floor space used for strength and conditioning routines, we also boast the use of quality conditioning equipment, to include dumbbells, barbells, medicine balls, stability balls, jump ropes, strength bands, pull up bars, and other assorted fitness apparatus which we utilize in conjunction with a variety of boxing specific calisthenic and plyometric training drills to get you in tip top shape. Remember, boxers are the best conditioned athletes in the world, and you will be too once you take that first step and get started.
