Torrance Elementary dressed in Red as the Green and Gold Champions arrived to the vibrant school for the Red Ribbon Week Annual assembly. This year was a special one because Torrance El would have WBC Cares visit their school for the first time. WBC Diamond Champion Leo Santacruz, Three Time World Champion Israel Vazquez, WBC International Champion Maricela Cornejo, Former Champion Bam Bam Brandon Rios, Three Division Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon, WBC’s Nancy Rodriguez, Pepe and Cecy Sulaiman, and our great friend and radio personality, Erika Garza represented WBC Cares at the much anticipated event. It was very early in the morning but every Champion and guest made the sacrifice, drive, some cancelled training to give back to the community and get together with the Boxing community to speak to the children about saying no to drugs and following their dreams.
Erika Garza and her great personality gave us the honor to emcee the event and pump up the crowd throughout the assembly. During the beginning of the event, There was a special moment to honor the fighters, survivors and victims of Breast Cancer. Sharon of the Los Angeles Pink Dragons represented the organization where the World Boxing Council gave a Female WBC Honorary Champion mini belt in honor of all the women fighting, particularly the late Ms. Chris Vitti, a teacher of Torrance Elementary, a Champion of life.
The fun began as the the Champions answered questions from the five to eleven year olds of the school. Hands were up in the air with enthusiasm as the Champions helped the children learn basic boxing moves and listened to the children’s dreams of the future. WBC personalized patches were given to all the students and well as gifts for participation. The Champions did not leave the school until every child had their autograph and/or picture taken, it wasn’t necessary to do that, but like the Champions they are, they wanted to give the kids their full attention and thank them for the support.
Pepe Sulaiman presented the school with a WBC Honorary Champion mini belt in honor of having these assemblies that will only benefit the future of the children.
Overall, this was a positive event not only to give back to the community, but also for the Champions to see how it only takes a moment of your life to inspire lives. The Champions left with a happy heart and 575 new fans, the children were left with words and memories that may build the future decisions they decide to make, the Champions of Life they will become.