Amateur Bout at HOPE NYC IX to Benefit GameChanger Charity
WHO: Ryan Polun steps into the boxing ring at Hammerstein Ballroom to honor his late father-in-law and raise $10,000 for pediatric cancer patients. For the past several months, 34-year-old Polun has trained physically and mentally for this moment in the spotlight, hosted by Haymakers for Hope, the non-profit that gives everyday people the opportunity to lace up the gloves and fight back against cancer. Polun is fighting for GameChanger Charity.
Donation link: https://haymakersforhope.org/event/new-york-city/2021/hope-nyc-ix/ryan-polun
WHAT: Haymakers for Hope gives everyday people a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train for and compete in their first sanctioned boxing event. Hope NYC IX will bring 26 amateur boxers together, including Ryan Polun and his opponent Vincent Cesare, to duke it out in front of thousands of supporters to raise money for their chosen causes. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.
WHEN: Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. EDT
WHERE: Hammerstein Ballroom at 311 W 34th St., NY, NY 10001
WHY: To raise awareness and funds for GameChanger Charity so the organization can continue to provide relief for hospitalized children with life-threatening illnesses. The charity provides premium video games, movies, live streams and educational content as distraction therapy and pain mitigation at no cost for thousands of isolated patients as well as their families and caregivers.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Media are invited to cover the event in-person and include in calendar listings. Advance press images are available here.
About GameChanger Charity
Based in Dana Point, Calif., GameChanger Charity is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Jim Carol and his son Taylor, inspired by Taylor’s battle with pediatric cancer. GameChanger’s mission is to bring happiness, hope and connection to hospitalized children all over the world primarily through the GameChanger Private Network, an interactive platform that gives patients, families and caregivers relief by providing free access to the latest video games, movies, virtual reality and other forms of distraction therapy. Accredited by STEM.org and recently awarded GuideStar’s (now Candid) Platinum Seal of Transparency, the charity has grown to help 25,000 children and 6,500 caregivers across several continents. Get involved at gamechangercharity.org and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Haymakers for Hope
H4H is an official 501(c)(3) charity organization that provides the opportunity to fight back against cancer. They help everyday people train for — and compete in — a sanctioned charity boxing event to raise funds for cancer research, care, awareness and survivorship. To prepare for each event, they combine the efforts of local boxing gyms and volunteers, and match boxers up with someone of a similar experience level (even if that experience level is “none”). At the end of the journey, they compete in front of thousands of supporters, and win or lose they’ll step into and out of the ring a champion.
In 2009, founders Andrew Myerson and Julie Anne Kelly participated in the New York City Golden Gloves. They decided that competing against the city’s best boxers wasn’t enough and decided to raise money for cancer research. This planted the seeds for Haymakers for Hope. Today, H4H provides amateur boxers with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in their first sanctioned boxing event. The experience is impactful, challenging, and life-changing, and the march towards a cure will continue long after the last match of the night. Not every fight ends at the bell. Learn more at https://haymakersforhope.org.
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Media Contacts:
George Medici
PondelWilkinson
gmedici@pondel.com
310.279.5968
Charles Upchurch
French | West | Vaughan
cupchurch@fwv-us.com
919.395.1588
