FDNY Boxing Team Reach Out to Wounded Warriors

FDNY Boxing Team presented $10,000 check to the Wounded Warrior Project in August 2008.

February 19, 2009 – When Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Boxing Team members enter the ring, they don’t do it for the money. In fact, all the money earned at the events goes to various charities, including the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).

Over the last three years, the team has donated more than $27,500 to the WWP, which benefits severely injured service men and women. “Especially after 9/11, we have felt that our military service personnel have risked everything to keep us safe,” says FDNY Boxing Team President Bobby McGuire, head coach and retired member of Uniformed Firefighters Association of New York (UFA) Local 94.

McGuire explains that the FDNY Boxing Team felt that the federal government was not doing enough. “That’s when we got involved,” he says.

Most of the time, the team’s donations to the WWP come from money raised during boxing events, but recently the team learned about one wounded warrior who needed a new laptop for work but could not afford it.

“We knew this was something we could do and we were happy to help Justin LaPree buy a new MAC notebook,” says McGuire.

In a thank you letter, Marine Corporal LaPree wrote, “You have shown me that there are people who care in this world and have been there for me when times are tough and helped me get through a life obstacle. You all have been brothers in arms and a friend to me.”

The FDNY Boxing Team participates in several amateur boxing matches each year, including the World Police and Fire Games and the International Police and Fire Games. All money won as a result of participating or organizing such events have gone to charities.

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to raise public awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.