Pico-Union Boxing Gym That Helps Keep Kids Off Streets Could Close

PICO-UNION (CBSLA.com) — A Pico-Union boxing club that helps keep inner-city kids off the streets could soon close.

Six years ago, Jeff Sacha turned three vacant garages at the Pico Union Housing Project on Venice Boulevard into a gym for his boxing team to practice on one condition: "As long as we train neighborhood kids. We don't charge. And we keep it safe and accept everyone who comes," he said.

The USC graduate student pursuing a sociology doctoral degree teaches boxing to dozens of kids a few nights a week for free, something Gloria Farias said the kids in their low-income housing so desperately need.

"I call it a knuckle sandwich sometimes - a sweet one or a bitter one. That's all they're really looking for is someone to guide them and tell them good from wrong," said Farias, Pico-Union Housing Corp. executive director.

About 100 people from the community work out there, kids and adults learning not only the discipline of boxing but how to stay healthy.

Nine-year-old Melania is one boxing student. Her mom, Maria Macedonio, said she feels safer having her daughter at the gym at night. "They don't have to just be like in the streets roaming it. It helps a lot. (Sacha) really helps a lot."

But Sacha fears all the community outreach may soon come to an end. He is graduating in a few months and does not know who will replace him when he moves for his new job.

"It would hurt me personally, of course, to not have this place be here any more in terms of my legacy. That pales in comparison to the damage it would do to the community," Sacha said.

Adrian Cruz, 24, worries about what could happen if this gym goes away because he said it played a major role in saving his life. "It kept me away from the streets and other people that don't do good things."

But volunteer coach Ramon Espada said he is confident the club will stay afloat. "We have enough people that have started to contribute to the program over the last few years that it won't be lost. It may have a few bumps in the road," he said.

Sacha said he wants the club to keep growing. And with expenses of at least $8,000 year to pay for equipment and the kids' boxing registration, he has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs to ensure his legacy of helping kids lives on after he moves on.

"Watching these kids fall in love with improving themselves is really fun to do, really fun to see that the confidence that comes out of that," Sacha said. "I really believe strongly that sports are a universal right."