Meet Shawn Worker from Washingtonville, NY

He’s our youngest hero so far! Amateur boxer, Shawn Worker, is only 20 years old, goes to school, works, and is in training to become a professional boxer. Shawn requested $25,000 to help the Newburgh Boxing Club in Newburgh, New York run by Ray Rivera, who has struggled for years to keep the club open. Ray, who lost his teenage son to street violence, provides a safe place for local kids to come to after school in one of New York’s most dangerous cities. Ray coaches kids who want to box, provides homework help, or just gives them a safe place to hang out. So this story has two heroes: an amateur boxer helping the guy who is helping him.

Shawn works nights as a hotel houseman and he goes to school full time at Orange Community College, studying criminology. His hotel work includes driving, cleaning, maintenance, security, or whatever else is needed. His dad, Paul, is a retired sergeant with the New York City Police Department and his mom, Joyce, is a pediatric nurse. He also has a younger sister, Kacy, who’s about to graduate high school. His family has a young man to be proud of. It’s not often we see 20-year olds who are looking for ways to help others.

His dream is to be a pro boxer and it looks like Shawn has the work ethic to do it. His dad tells us that Shawn has already fought in the New York City Golden Gloves as a welterweight. He’s been training at the Newburg Boxing Club where Ray Rivera has supported Shawn’s dream and helped hundreds of local kids stay off the street. He coaches them in the sport he learned as an 8-year-old kid at the Apollo Boxing Club in the Bronx. Although he made some mistakes along the road, the violent death of his 16-year old son turned Ray’s life in a new direction. He often uses his own money to keep The Newburgh Boxing Club open hoping not to lose any more kids to the streets.

Diary Starts Here

August 21, 2009
Luis "Orlandito" Del Valle, Newburgh Boxing Club's undefeated pro boxer, fights again next Wednesday, August 26th in Times Square.

April 23, 2009
Things are getting started for the new computer lab. Ray just ordered 5 new computer systems.

March 31, 2009
Ray Rivera and his Newburgh Boxing Club are busy promoting their next event. It's the Junior Olympics Metro Championship, and it's being held next Saturday, April 4th.

February 26, 2009
Newburgh's own pro fighter, Luis Del Valle, remains undefeated after a unanimous decision in his 4 round bout against Tommy Atencion today at BB Kings in Times Square. It was an exciting fight from start to finish with Luis dominating it entirely. Congratulations to Luis and Ray!

November 19, 2008
There was lots of excitement at the gym today! Ray got the good news as soon as he arrived at the gym. There were newspaper reporters and a TV crew there as well as Shawn's mother and grandparents. Ray wasn't even aware that Shawn had applied for the grant so he was totally surprised. I asked what he would do with the money and he wants to put in a learning center downstairs. I suggested they call it the "Shawn Worker Learning Center."

Shawn's mother, Joyce, was there and became my eyes and ears by calling me from the gym. She said that Ray had tears in his eyes when he heard the news. And pro boxer Luis Del Valle was there. Four years ago, Ray took Luis under his wing, trained him to become a three-time Golden Gloves champion and he just turned pro this year. Shawn was thrilled to see Luis there. Luis told me (on Joyce's cell phone) that this grant was a blessing and that there were times the club had to shut down for lack of funds. It looks like that won't happen any more.

November 18, 2008
Today marked the first of two surprises for this grant. Shawn’s parents were a big help in giving me the best time to call. I had spoken to his dad, Paul, who could not be home but we arranged for me to call the house in the morning. So this morning, I called Shawn’s mom, Joyce, who was a great co-conspirator and said if I called right at noon, she would ask Shawn to answer the phone, saying she was expecting a call from her mother. When I gave him the news, he said he never expected to “win” this grant and was very excited. All this while his mom was taking his picture for us. (thanks, Joyce!).

In a bit of a twist for us, Shawn has now become our ally to help surprise Ray tomorrow at the gym. He’s making sure Ray will be there along with some of his boxers so Shawn will give him the good news tomorrow.