Despite finding a new home, Peekskill Be First Boxing & Fighting Arts is still not quite done with its fight.
The longtime private youth program of about 19 years (which has no connection to the city’s Youth Bureau) seeks $50,000 for renovations after relocating to 1698 Main Street over a year ago, from 200 North Water Street. There, it faced a legal battle over rent, as well as mold and drainage issues that resulted in $50,000 in damages, according to the program director.
A GoFundMe created by Coach West Artope, the executive director of Be First Boxing, noted that funding will be used to cover essential operating costs so the program can focus on mentoring and “not just making rent.”
Artope started Be First Boxing around 19 years ago with his late wife Clara Montague, a profighter Keith Mullins, and two other fighters. Artope said it was his wife’s dying wish to continue the program no matter what.
“It’s very expensive, but it’s worth every penny,” Artope told the Peekskill Herald. “I use a lot of personal finances, but I can’t do that anymore. So that’s why we’re fundraising, to let people know that this is a worthy cause, and the more financial support we have, the more we can do.”
The GoFundMe for Be First Boxing, launched last week, had raised $1,175 as of 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10. A previous GoFundMe for Be Real Boxing started by another coach raised about $600 but was disabled when Artope launched the current campaign.
Members, visitors, and coaches pose for a photo on Wednesday, Sept. 3. (Eric Harvey)
Artope said funding will be used to expand weekly gym hours so more youth can train safely after school, bring on full-time coaches, hire a front-desk/cleaning manager, and purchase a reliable 10-passenger vehicle so kids can travel safely to competitions.
The new location, on the third floor of 1698 Main Street, is approximately 3,500-4,000 square feet. The former building was 8,000 square feet. The boxing gym requires several lights to be put up and equipment to better train kids, including bars and racks. Other equipment from the former location is still being brought in.
The program currently has about 50 members, less than it originally had at 200 North Water St. Artope said he held off on new membership partially because he had to do a lot of renovations. Part of the reason for the move, he said, was to be closer to kids who walk to the gym.
Trainees include those as young as 5 and as old as 83, both males and females, kids with disabilities, and veterans coming from Peekskill, Cortlandt, and Mahopac. It also includes those who love the fighting arts, doctors, and lawyers, and those getting ready to take the police, fire, and military exams.
Aaron Bailey, a 26-year-old member, told the Herald that at the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, he was looking for a place where he could work on himself and build good discipline. That place turned out to be Be First Boxing.
“Four years down the line, I compete in tournaments. I come here almost every day,” Bailey said. “I’ve made a habit out of teaching other people what I know and stuff like that. I think this place is super important to Peekskill as just a beacon for the people to be able to come and grow, see themselves change into the kind of person they want to be.”
Sheena Bauer, a member who has helped organize work at the gym, said boxing allows kids to express themselves while also teaching self-defense. She also commended Artope, who frequently sponsors kids who are unable to pay.
“He works hard, works with children that need extra time and care. He’s devoted, he honestly is,” Bauer said. “Within the 18 years of knowing him, there hasn’t been a time where he hasn’t tried to work with families, work with the kids. And it’s not just boxing within itself, it’s school.”
Artope said although they don’t have all the resources they need, they have some “incredible” volunteers and workers, such as coaches Gary Pippa, Steve Franklin, and Jim Crookston. He also expresses gratitude toward his landlord, Uri Attia, whom Artope said is cooperative regarding late payments and has donated couches for kids.
“We’re here and we plan on staying here,” Artope said. “Our next goal is to actually purchase the building so that we don’t have to rent.”
[Ed. Note: This story was updated at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, to reflect the dollar amount that had been raised by that point through GoFundMe for Be First Boxing.]
