I just had to share this moving speech by Dennis Hardesty, the founder of the Hammond Boxing Gym in Indiana, US.
“I would like to thank the Mayor for asking me to speak tonight. First I’ll tell you a little about myself then we’ll go into why I’m here.
My name is Dennis Hardesty I had a very humble beginning, my mother worked 32 years at White Castle to support our large family. When you come from a big family big things happen. Originally there were 11 of us then down to five. Some of us got separated from the rest, one was adopted by another family and us younger ones stayed with our mom. My dad left when I was young and for us it was a good thing. It would have been worse if he would have stayed. I know what’s like to live in a 2 bedroom apartment with 7 of us to share. While some of my siblings were in orphanages and never seen by us again and some found their way back in our lives.
Now I’m a fortunate person. I’m fortunate because through boxing I’ve been helping people more than thirty years, many of them are kids, some athletes, others box to get in shape there are some kids that made bad decisions by joining gangs learning how to survive on the streets and others that had to learn how to survive in their bad home environment. All need to let out aggression or just to be involved in something positive.
I can give many examples of how our boxing program has changed lives. We don’t reach everyone and some never get out of their destructive behavior. But I’d like to give you an example of one person that took a long journey in life to make something good of himself. I will not disclose his name because he is from Hammond there are some things I’m sure he regrets and is embarrassed about.
It was about 20 years ago this kid started coming to my boxing club I had in Whiting. He was always polite and quiet in the gym but outside the gym he was a mess highly involved in a gang that is known nationwide. There was one particular time he got in trouble and when I found out about it I approached him and we talked. I decided to go to court with him which I don’t do very often.
First off he had to borrow some dress clothes, for me to show up in court with anyone they better dress the part. He borrowed a shirt, pants and shoes.
Then we went to court. I really believed what I told the Prosecutor and Judge that day. I told them “I believe that this young man will be a good contributing citizen in his community someday”. The Prosecutor told the Judge she knew of me and felt me coming to court could be a positive influence in his life. Well he got off with probation.
Now I must tell you being involved with kids really keeps you up on the local news. News that you won’t find in the newspaper, radio or television. News that is happening everyday with families, neighbors good and bad from the people that are involved with incidents that make up their community.
I’m sure any police officer here can write a book on neighborhood news that you’ll never hear about. So throughout the years I kept up with things and this kids name kept coming up as a notorious high ranking gang member. But I couldn’t get away from thinking I can’t believe he was going to make this lifestyle his future.
Then after years of losing contact other than what I heard from the street kids. I started hearing he is not involved with the gangs anymore. Then I started asking around and people were saying he works and doesn’t dress the part as a gangbanger. About 2 years ago I ran into him. We had a chance to talk for a long time. During the time we talked I didn’t ask him if he was still involved with gangs. I figured why, he was going to say no either way. He was going to say no if he was involved and he was going to say no if he wasn’t. After that day I didn’t hear much about him and when you don’t hear about someone that is a good sign.
So a few weeks ago I was standing in our new boxing club and I heard someone say “Dennis this looks good” I turned it was him standing next to me. He had his work uniform on with his company name on it. Now we talk almost every day, and today this person is a good contributing citizen to his community.
Maybe it took him 20 years to get where he is at today but he ended up where he remembered he got accepted when he was a kid.
You see we take anyone, we take the ones that are not accepted, we take the ones that have been kicked out of everywhere else, we take the ones that think they don’t belong to anything, and we take the ones no one wants. For many it’s their last hope.
I must remind you most of them slip away but a few hang on to the hope that was given to them, and they might not turn to the straight life right away but some turn back around later.
I can relate to these kids because I know what’s it’s like to be a scared child, I know what’s it like to be picked on because there wasn’t a father at home, I know what it’s like to grow up without a vehicle at home, I know what it’s like to live in rental property not because it was what my Mother wanted, because it was the cheapest she could find. I’m no different than a lot of kids I’m just an older person trying to get by.
Now we’ll go in to why I’m here. I’m here because Mayor McDermott gave us a boxing club in your backyard. Our Hammond Boxing Club is located at 250 Ogden Street. Our gym has 8 trainers all volunteers Everlast equipment 10 heavy bags, jump ropes, boxing gloves, headgear, team uniforms and a brand new Everlast ring. We plan to give hope to anyone 8 years old and up. We have members in their 40’s and 50’s just to work out we have members there to cut weight. We have younger members trying to make our amateur team and we also have professionals.
For members 18 and older the fee is $25.00 a month for 17 and younger $20.00 a month. We are open Monday thru Thur. 5-8pm. and Saturdays 10am. -12noon. For our Police and Firemen it’s free. Now I ‘m not here to solicit but we do need a volunteer to help with our office and equipment room.
If you want to know how this came about it’s because Mayor McDermott didn’t forget about your kids, he didn’t forget about your grandchildren your neighbors and friends.
All my younger years I thought politicians never cared about the poor or unwanted. Now these kids in your community can grow up knowing Mayor McDermott cared. Hopefully someday one of them will become Mayor of our great city and help others.
In closing I would like to thank everyone for listening and invite you to visit us at 250 Ogden Street. I will be here for the rest of the evening so if you have any questions I will be glad to answer them.
Thank you.”
