PANAMA CITY – The World Boxing Association is proud to announce that it has donated $15,000 dollars after the 17th edition of the “WBA – KO Drugs”  Festival took place last Thursday in Panama City. WBA Executive VP Gilberto Jesus Mendoza engaged in a 3-round exhibition fight with former champion Evander Holyfield that not only served to raise the money for the donations but also to entertain 5,000 enthusiastic fans that packed the Figali Convention Center.

 

“It was great to have Evander participating along with us in an event like this. It was a total success, so we want to thank not only him and his group but also all the people that worked really hard to make it possible,” Mendoza said. “By far we have achieved our main goals: to raise money to benefit the needy, to send a clear message about the necessity of keeping kids off drugs, and to entertain the fans with a very attractive boxing card,” he added.

 

“It was a great night of boxing evening. I’m honored to have been part of the event. Everybody had a great time and, most importantly, we’ve sent a wonderful message to the children to stay off drugs and start their lives drug free,” said Holyfield.

 

Lisa Smith-Putnam received a donation of $7,500 on behalf of The Holyfield Foundation. The Holyfield Foundation was created in 1993 by Holyfield to help disadvantaged young people become healthy, successful and productive adults. The Holyfield Foundation strives to strengthen the lives of youth and their families by establishing and funding programs dedicated to their athletic, academic and spiritual development. The Holyfield Foundation provides underprivileged, but deserving youth more opportunities to succeed.  The Holyfield Foundation’s past funding efforts have been geared towards assisting outside organizations, with similar missions, that meet their core demographic.  For more details on The Holyfield Foundation’s programs, visit www.holyfieldfoundation.org

 

Meanwhile, the WBA will deliver a check of another $7,500 dollars to Hogares C.R.E.A. Centro de Rehabilitación para Adictos a Drogas de Panama (Drugs Rehab Center) next week. Hogares CREA is a non government institution that started back in 1995. It helps about 200 drug addicts who cannot afford private treatments and are distributed in different rehab centers through Panama. Its rehab program lasts 19-21 months and is divided in different levels, and includes re-education, group therapy, family and spiritual therapy. This institution works with volunteers, for which donations are their main support. For more information on the Hogares CREA programs, please call: + (507) 268 2000 / 268 3133 / 248 5556 / 224 8268.