H.O.N.K. (Helping Our Neighborhood Kids) is a non-profit Boxing/Club/Youth Center that is located in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn, New York. This is a safe and great place where Kids/Teens/Pre-Adults can go to engage in special activities, train and have a supervised boxing workout.

The main reason I started this project was simple…

“It simply gives these neighborhood kids a safe and productive second home!”

I started training some of these awesome kids around twelve years ago, for the sole reason to create a SAFE and POSITIVE environment for kids and teens to grow up in. to give these kids a fighting chance and lead them far away from peer pressure, drugs and the possibility of joining some street gangs. To encourage kids of all ages to take up the hobby of boxing, which is great to help them stay active, train, exercise and discipline. I have noticed a huge difference it has made on my shy students; giving them the confidence and skills they need to advance in life, as well as the self-defense tactics to help them through the struggles of everyday life.

I wish I had this type of center to have gone to when I was younger growing up in Flatbush Brooklyn. While me and my sister grew up in a lower-class poor family, that spent most days and nights living in our roach and rat infested apartment building, living on spam and rice-a-roni four to five night s a week. This at least put a roof over my head till a bad fire destroyed our home when I was ten years old, putting our family out in the streets, leaving me with nothing but the clothes on my back. This caused me problems with my classmates, making fun of me because I had to wear the same clothes sometimes multiple days in a row. This created a problem constantly getting into fights and making awkward trips to the dean’s office, and on some occasions the police station. This when I found a local boxing club that had changed my life forever. It kept me off the streets and in a positive environment, till this day I thank God and boxing for saving my life, I have had numerous friends die from drugs, homicide and even suicide. I have been to too many wakes of friends who had no where to go to and have not had the chance I did. This is why I am Trying' to keep some kids off that Dead End Path of Destruction!

The type of club I have created is a boxing training facility as well as a youth activities center.

The work out section includes:

Brand new 20’ X 20’ regulation sized boxing ring
5 Heavy Bags
2 Speed Bags
1 double End Bag
1 Cobra Bag
1 Rubber man
Free Weights
Medicine Balls
Sit Up Benches
Jump Ropes
Gloves and Protective Gear
Boxing Trainer

The Activities Lounge includes:

1 New 8’ Felt with Drop Pockets Pool Table
1 Smaller Pool table and ping pong combination
2 Dart Boards
1 Foosball Table
1 Chess Set
8 Chairs
1 TV with DVD player
1 Stereo (Which also is located in work out area)

I have 18 active students that I am training right now!

WE NEED HELP TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM GOING! I have invested twenty thousand of my own money to renovate and make sure the club has everything it needs to perform. I am in the pain-staking process of getting this program to be a 501-c3 non-profit organization to help keep the bills paid and the project moving forward.

We are hoping some companies and businesses would help fund this project and contribute what ever they feel comfortable in donating to H.O.N.K., We would love for someone to help sponsor some of our students who have a hard time making the low payments of the program. If you or someone you may know could help us in any way, we do appreciate it so much, you don’t know. I am open to any advice you may have and is deeply appreciated, God Bless All Who Help Support the Children of Our Future!

Thanks for your interest and support,
Ray Fiore

HELP ME HELP THESE KIDS!!!