August 31, 2006 – Mexico City. From WBC President Jose Sulaiman: The WBC is proud to announce the launching of this program in support of all those little champions around the world that serve as an example of courage and desire. This program will consist of a world campaign in which boxing personalities, especially world champions, will visit childrens’ hospitals to encourage them to keep up the hard work and show them that there is always the possibility to succeed in whatever battle there might be..
Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez, a WBC Ambassador for Peace and Goodwill in the World Through Sports, will visit the Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles on Monday, September 18, at 12:00 noon.
The WBC is planning the specific actions of this committee, which will involve our current WBC Ambassadors around the world, who are: Wayne McCullough, John Stracey, Genaro “Chicanito” Herrnandez, Alex Ramos, Gerry Cooney, Vitali Klitschko, Lennox Lewis, Konstantin Tszyu, Erik Morales, Floyd Mayweather, Azumah Nelson, Richie Woodhall, Luisito Espinosa, Jeff Fenech and Thulane Malinga.
OUR MISSION: WBC: WORLD BOXING CARES – BIG CHAMPS FOR LITTLE CHAMPS
“Boxing has no borders; we (boxers) don’t care about skin colors, religions, politics, flags, languages. We all speak the same language; we all understand perfectly its universal voice. We all chat with our fists, with our hearts, with our souls; that’s what boxing is all about.”
Laura Serrano (boxer & poet of the ring)
The World Boxing Council is the largest sanctioning body of professional sports in the world. It represents 162 countries; a culturally and economically diverse brethren of people united by their love of boxing. The WBC is dedicated to the safety and equality of the athletes who engage in this sport.
This year, the WBC celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of Dr. Jose Sulaiman, as President of the organization. It has always been Jose’s mission to find different ways for our community, to share the richness of our humanity with others. During his leadership, the World Boxing Council has donated more than one million dollars to UCLA, helped victims of the Tsunami, by sending doctors and supplies, held fund raisers for those devastated by Katrina, and paid for the operations and survival of past heroes in our sport.
Moved by tragic current events, Jose has decided that he wants to help those innocent lives who have suffered the most. As an international organization, the WBC has the power to extend a helping hand to children worldwide.
A wise person once said that a society is measured by how they treat the less fortunate. We feel privileged that we have found a way to improve the quality of life for many sick children. That is why Jose Sulaiman and the WBC want to go into hospitals and bring the courage of our boxers to young champions who are battling illness. These young people are our true hero’s.
Like health care, boxing is an individual pursuit that takes a team effort to succeed. “WBC: World Boxing Cares – Big Champs for Little Champs” — is our way of becoming part of a larger team helping sick children.
We would like to begin our campaign with Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Many of our champions come from the Greater Los Angeles community and can convey a message of hope and compassion as only someone who’s been there can.
On Monday, September 18, the WBC will be bringing Mr. Genaro Hernandez to visits with patients and their families at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
It is our hope that together, we can make a small difference in the lives of children and families facing adversity through our message of Hope and Inspiration.