THROUGH THE FUNDRAISER WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS IN NEED. PROJECT COMMUNITY COVERAGE NOW IN SUNDAY MORNING’S EDITION OF WTAE LISTENS. WE FOCUS ON THE PROBLEMS SURROUNDING YOUTH VIOLENCE AND THE SOLUTIONS. MANY TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR POSITIVE INFLUENCES AND OUTLETS FOR THESE KIDS. AND THIS MORNING I’M SHOWING HOW ONE MAN ON THE NORTH SIDE USES HIS BOXING GYM TO HELP KEEP KIDS HEALTHY AND OUT OF TROUBLE. INSIDE THE RING AT THE NORTHSIDE ATHLETIC CLUB. >> I ALWAYS SAY THIS PLACE IS MORE THAN A GYM. >> IT’S LIKE THERAPY TO ME. >> IT’S KIND OF LIKE MY SAFE SPACE. >> OWNER MIKE MANNA SAYS. >> IT’S A SAFE HAVEN FOR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT REASONS BECAUSE THEY’RE SPENDING THEIR TIME HERE AND ALSO WE INSTILL IN THEM A LOT OF THINGS THAT DETER THEM FROM GETTING INTO FIGHTS OUTSIDE OF THE GYM. >> I COME HERE WHEN I’M MAD WHEN I’M HAPPY AND IT’S A PLACE TO LET ALL MY FRUSTRATIONS OUT. >> WHEN I WAS COMING UP THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I COULDN’T AFFORD TO DO THINGS. >> THAT MEMORY LEADING MANNA ON A MISSION TO OFFER FREE BOXING AT THE NORTHSIDE ATHLETIC CLUB ON SPRINGGARDEN AVENUE TO ANY CHILD ENROLLED IN SCHOOL AS LONG AS THEY KEEP THEIR GRADES UP AND VOLUNTEER ONCE A MONTH. >> IT’S FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN POVERTY TOO BUT IT’S ALSO FOR PEOPLE. LIKE SINGLE MOMS LIKE MY MOTHER THERE WERE TIMES WHEN IT WAS HARD FOR HER TO HAVE ME IN A SPORT BECAUSE IT WAS A FINANCIAL BURDEON AND I DON’T WANT THAT -- FINANCIAL BURDEN AND I DON’T WANT THAT FOR PEOPLE. >> THE PRO BOXER WHO’S ALSO A PITTSBURGH INSURANCE AGENT USES A LOT OF HIS OWN MONEY TO FUND THE FACILITY. AND PLAYS A FATHERLY ROLE OVER THESE KIDS AND TEENS THAT NOT ONLY LOOK UP TO HIM, BUT RELATE TO HIM AND RESPECT HIM. >> HE REALLY HELPED ME BRING THE CONFIDENCE OUT IN MYSELF. I NEVER REALLY USED TO BE TOO CONFIDENT. I USED TO TAKE THE LOW ROAD BUT HE’S REALLY HELPED ME UPLIFT MYSELF. I’M NOT GOING TO LIE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I WAS LIKE THE WILD TYPE. SO COMING DOWN HERE REALLY RELAXED ME A LITTLE BIT. MAIN FOCUS FOR ME IS DISCIPLINE. >> YEAH, I WANT MY KIDS TO WIN WHEN THEY BOX, BUT IN THE END GAME IF THEY’RE WINNING IN LIFE THAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME. I’M PROUD OF ALL THESE GUYS. >> SO WONDERFUL, RIGHT? WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE DOING GOOD THINGS AND IT IS SO NICE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF KIDS THAT DID NOT SHOW UP AT THE GYM AND HE CALLED THEM. AND THERE WAS A SHOOTING AND HE OPENED THE GYM IS A SAFE PLACE. HE IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FOR THESE KIDS. AND HE’S ALSO LOOKING FOR SPONSORSHIP TO GET T
How one Pittsburgh boxing gym is helping young people across the city
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Updated: 9:32 AM EST Feb 3, 2023
In the next edition of "WTAE Listens," we focus on the problems surrounding youth violence and the solutions.Many talk about the need for positive influences and outlets for these kids. One man on Pittsburgh's North Side is using his boxing gym to help keep kids healthy and out of trouble. “It's a safe haven for a couple of different reasons. Because they're spending their time here and also we instill in them a lot of things that deter them from getting into fights outside of the gym,” Michael Manna, president of Northside Athletic Club, said.“I come here when I'm mad, when I’m happy, and it's a place to let all my frustrations out,” said Tommy Parker. "When I was coming up, there were times when I couldn't afford to do things,” Manna said. Check out these top headlines from WTAE: Peeling license plate? Here's how to get it replaced Giant Eagle: No more weekly ads in the mail Family says fiberglass released from mattress caused health problems, expensive cleanupThat memory led Manna on a mission to offer free boxing at Northside Athletic Club’s Spring Garden Avenue location to any child enrolled in school, as long as they keep their grades up and volunteer once a month.“It's for people who are in poverty, but it's also for people, like single moms. Like my mother, there were times when it was hard for her to have me in a sport because it was a financial burden, and I don't want that for people,” Manna said. The pro boxer, who's also a Pittsburgh insurance agent, uses a lot of his own money to fund the facility. He plays a fatherly role over these young men, who not only look up to him but relate to and respect him. “He really helped me bring the confidence out in myself,” Jaise Csurilla said.”I never really used to be too confident. I used to take the low road, but he's really helped me uplift myself.“I'm proud of all these guys,” Manna said. Sponsors are helping Manna keep the gym running so he can keep the doors open seven days a week for these kids.
In the next edition of "WTAE Listens," we focus on the problems surrounding youth violence and the solutions.
Many talk about the need for positive influences and outlets for these kids. One man on Pittsburgh's North Side is using his boxing gym to help keep kids healthy and out of trouble.
“It's a safe haven for a couple of different reasons. Because they're spending their time here and also we instill in them a lot of things that deter them from getting into fights outside of the gym,” Michael Manna, president of Northside Athletic Club, said.
“I come here when I'm mad, when I’m happy, and it's a place to let all my frustrations out,” said Tommy Parker.
"When I was coming up, there were times when I couldn't afford to do things,” Manna said.
Check out these top headlines from WTAE:
That memory led Manna on a mission to offer free boxing at Northside Athletic Club’s Spring Garden Avenue location to any child enrolled in school, as long as they keep their grades up and volunteer once a month.
“It's for people who are in poverty, but it's also for people, like single moms. Like my mother, there were times when it was hard for her to have me in a sport because it was a financial burden, and I don't want that for people,” Manna said.
The pro boxer, who's also a Pittsburgh insurance agent, uses a lot of his own money to fund the facility.
He plays a fatherly role over these young men, who not only look up to him but relate to and respect him.
“He really helped me bring the confidence out in myself,” Jaise Csurilla said.”I never really used to be too confident. I used to take the low road, but he's really helped me uplift myself.
“I'm proud of all these guys,” Manna said.
Sponsors are helping Manna keep the gym running so he can keep the doors open seven days a week for these kids.
