New York State Boxing HOF & Ring 8 COVID-19 fund assisted boxers and boxing personnel last month in New York

NEW YORK (May 6, 2020) – The jointly established COVID-19 fund by New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) and Ring 8 distributed more than $5,000 last month to assist New York and New Jersey boxers and boxing personnel in financial need due to the coronavirus pandemic.

All applicants needed to be licensed (NYSAC, NJSAC or USA Boxing).  Many boxers, trainers, cut men and the boxing personnel are independent contractors in need of financial support during this trying time.

“We wanted to help people in boxing whose livelihoods have been so adversely affected by this pandemic,” NYSBHOF present Bob Duffy said.  “I’d like to thank Ring 8 president Charley Norkus for partnering with us, along with Ring 8 board members Ron McNair, Bobby Bartels and Henry Hascup. I’d especially like to thank Lou DiBella for his generous contribution, as well as Dave “Scooter” Honig and boxer Richard Kiley for their donations.  And Peter Frutkoff, among others, for all of his hard work getting the word out about the fund.”

“As president of Ring 8,” Charles Norkus, Jr. added, “I was honored to be part of this group relief fund to assist those who were in need.  I am glad that in more than 60 years of existence, Ring 8 still assists those in need from the boxing community.”

CONTACT:

Bob Trieger, Full Court PRESS, 978.590.0470, bobtfcp@hotmail.com, @FightPublicist

It is with sincere wishes that the Board of Directors hopes that you and your family members are well at this time of crisis. We here in the worldwide boxing community have lost quite a few members over the last few months; and many more have been sickened by this disease. Many of former Ring 8 Honorees and NYS Boxing HOF’ers have succumb to this disease. Our Prayers and respectful remembrances to those and their families from the Ring 8 Family at this time.

According to schedule, our next Ring 8 meeting was to be held on Tues. May 19^th, 2020 at ONeills Restaurant in Maspeth, Queens. The NYS Gov. has set a May 15^th date for PARTIAL re-opening of the state. We feel that this is not enough time to hold a meeting, if one was even possible, because of restrictions that are in effect.

Therefore, Ring 8 will re-schedule the meeting with a TEMPORARY date of Tues. June 16, 2020. At ONeills. Of course this meeting is predicated on certain terms with respect to the virus rules in effect at that time. Will ONeills or any other place be able to hold group meetings ? Will social distancing still be in effect ? Will ONeills themselves be open ?

All these questions must be answered as time goes on. As ALWAYS, Ring 8 cares about the health of our members and guests. It will never jeopardize that and will always side on the side of “safety over risk”. Therefore we will keep you updated on all our events as things get closer to their time. Thank You

Continuing to look after our Ring 8 members, a program for the month of April was set up by Bob Duffy, President of the New York State Boxing HOF, and in  co-operation with Henry Hascup and  our members and friends of the New Jersey Boxing HOF that afforded them a stipend if they were from those two states. Any member from the boxing community, if they applied through those organizations and was vetted, was given a un-repayable stipend if they did not receive a stimulus check from the government. This was for the entire month of April and the program has ended. The Ring 8 Fund gave out over $ 5,000 to those in need and received Thank You from All. We must mention that we received donations from of boxings top people to assist with these gifts. Thank You Bob Duffy for your hard work on this endeavor.

Please check back at the beginning of each month for updates. Ring 8 Board of Directors wishes everyone and their families a continued safe and healthy spring.

Charles Norkus Jr, President Ring 8 VBA