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CALEB TRUAX & JAMAL JAMES HEADLINE BACK-TO-SCHOOL RALLY FOR NEIGHBORHOOD SHELTER FAMILIES

People Serving People Monday Event Kicks-Off Boxing Week for the Downtown Minneapolis Armory

Minneapolis, Minnesota (August 15, 2018 ) - World-ranked local boxers Jamal James and Caleb Truax are answering the bell for education as they prepare for their Aug. 24 fights at the historic Minneapolis Armory in downtown Minneapolis.

Both fighters will break from their training schedules on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, to meet with children staying with their families at People Serving People, the region’s largest family homeless shelter.

The 1030am event will take place at People Serving People’s downtown Minneapolis location. Located at 614 Third St. S., the facility is just a few blocks from the Armory, where the boxers will step into the ring for the nationally televised night of boxing.

“Last school year, 8% of students in Minneapolis Public Schools experienced homelessness or high mobility. Many of these students stay with their families at People Serving People. We know that education is critical to ending cycles of poverty. As the school year approaches, we’re grateful to Jamal and Caleb for bringing school and enrichment supplies for our youth and sharing their story with us,” said Noah Gerding, People Serving People Director of Development.

In the buildup to the fight, Minneapolis native James and Osseo’s Truax talked about the importance of education and giving back to the community.

Truax, a University of Minnesota graduate, said he chose to finish his college degree before joining the professional boxing ranks. Though he has climbed to the pinnacle of the boxing profession, the former IBF World Super Middleweight champion says it was a good decision.

“I knew that getting an education and getting a degree was more important in the long run than turning pro,” Truax said. “It’s something that nobody can take away from you. It’s the most important fight you will ever have.”

For his part, James said he benefitted from the support of “a humungous village” as he found success in and out of the ring. He has a stellar 23-1 professional record and No. 3 ranking at welterweight by the World Boxing Association.

James said he feels obligated and honored to pay it forward.

“When you are successful, you need to give back to those you see who may have an opportunity but just need that extra push just like I needed that extra push,” he said.

During the People Serving People event, funded by the Armory Foundation, James and Truax will deliver backpacks and school supplies and interact with preschool students in People Serving People’s Early Childhood Development Program.

A surprising number of children in the Minneapolis Public Schools system don’t have stable housing. In the 2016-17 school year, 8 percent of MPS students experienced homelessness at some point during the year, according to the MPS.

People Serving People supports children and families experiencing homelessness in Hennepin County. Minneapolis Public Schools has an office on-site at the shelter and schedules 35 buses a day to pick up students from People Serving People and bring them to their schools.

PHOTO OPP & Armory Boxing Media Event

What: Local Boxers Headline - Stay in School Rally

When: Monday, August 20th, 10:30-11:00 a.m.

Where: People Serving People Shelter, 614 Third St. S., Minneapolis

Who: World-ranked boxers Jamal James and Caleb Truax & People Serving People CEO Daniel Gumnit and Director of Development Noah Gerding will also participate in brief program.

Why: Local boxers deliver a knockout message of persistence, courage and hope to children of families experiencing instability. James & Truax will be the local headliners on the Armory’s August 24th card. For more information – go to http://www.ArmoryMN.com.

 

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