Since January, a partnership with Ogden City has opened this learning experience to all kids, regardless of financial situation.

David Foley, owner and operator of Foley’s MMA, told the Standard-Examiner that when the city sent out an RFP for a boxing program, it was a natural fit.

“When we saw the city’s request for proposal, we put in a proposal and they accepted it for a certain amount of time,” he said. “We’re hoping to keep the program going. It’s for Ogden City kids that are economically challenged, and it’s Monday-Friday after school from 3:30-5:30 p.m., and we are focused on USA Boxing — amateur boxing for kids 8-and-up — but really, it’s more than just a boxing gym, we want it to be a safe place for kids after school for a couple of hours.”

According to Ogden City Community Engagement Director Luis Lopez, the RFP, for the first year, provides $30,000 in seed funding from the city — $15,000 from the recreation department and $15,000 from the Ogden Police Department — with a match from Foley’s MMA. Foley’s, meanwhile, has created a non-profit to raise money and take on more of the financial costs with the goal of the city halving its share by the second year and completely turning over funding for the program to FOley’s non-profit by the third year.

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

Last week, city officials, including Lopez and Mayor Ben Nadolski, visited Foley’s MMA to view the class and its participants.

“I’m excited to see it starting up,” Nadolski said. “It’s fun to see so many kids participating. When they’re engaged, you can see how focused they’ve become.”

In an interview with the Standard-Examiner in January that, while serving as a member of the Ogden City Council years ago, he’d tried to get the city to help fund a similar program for underserved youth.

“I brought an idea to the administration at the time and we had some conversations,” he said. “What ended up happening out of that conversation was, because of politics, some people started a campaign against me to accuse me of wanting to profit from starting a business in boxing.”

He said even bringing in supporters to speak for such a program did little to move the needle towards implementation.

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

“I brought members of the community to meet with people from the administration,” he said. “My friends left feeling very frustrated and berated because of the way they were treated by the administration. … They killed any opportunity that we could’ve had to develop this program.”

But seeing the program well under way last Thursday, there were no feelings of frustration for Lopez.

“It feels incredibly exciting,” he said. “The kids here are very happy. It’s a program that is needed. It’s important for their development, to help them build their character, to help them do well in school, discipline — all kinds of reasons. … We look forward to this partnership for the future and we invite the community to come and register for the program.”

Foley’s MMA assistant Pat Nielsen told the Standard-Examiner that the gym represents more than a place to just get some exercise and recreation in.

“This is a place where, if you’re bullied and if you’re down and out, this is a place where you can come in and get your confidence back,” he said. “It’s a place where you can kind of have a family environment, and it’s a program where Dave focuses specifically on skills that will help anybody — not just in boxing — but also throughout their lives in school, high school and after.”

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

He said the program is two hours per day each weekday and focuses on fundamentals of boxing.

Teaching the class is Foley’s assistant head coach Armando Reyes.

“I’ve been teaching for (Dave Foley),” Reyes said. “He started talking to me about this opportunity and I thought it was just great because I came from a family that didn’t have the means to afford something like this.”

Like Nielsen, Reyes said that the class helps build something beyond simple recreation.

“I was bullied growing up,” he said. “This is a great class for the kids because it teaches them confidence, it teaches them to stand up for themselves, especially in the situation where they’re getting bullied. It’s just a great program for them, and it’s been great for me being able to teach them. I get a lot of experience out of it, I get a lot of experience watching Foley teach the kids. It’s great for me and I’m grateful for this program and being able to do it.”

He said there are around 15 kids in the program and its open to upwards of 30.

Foley said there isn’t a set length for how long kids are a part of the program, but he recommends that they participate on a seasonal basis to avoid burnout.

“If they really like it, they’ll stick with it all the way from 8-years-old to 18,” he said. “I’ve trained a lot of kids for 18 years, and the kids that do it and have a break here and there usually stick with it longer. It’s something they could do for their whole youth.”

He said that he’s hopeful to continue this is only the beginning for a youth boxing program open to all youths, regardless of thier financial barriers.

“I hope it never ends,” he said. “I’m born and raised in Ogden. I started boxing at the Marshall White Center. I always wanted to run a gym. When I put in the application and I had to fill out the request for proposal, it kind of brought to light the accomplishments I have had in the community. I’ve raised kids here and already trained a few national champions — both adult and kids — so I hope this program lasts forever and can continue to make an impact on people’s lives.”

Foley called what he does have today “a dream come true.”

“I have kids coming in here that cannot afford it that now have a gym and a coach five days per week that they can train with,” he said.