FLINT, Michigan — On Thursday, July 13, Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village (also known as SBEV) hosted the “Lockdown Pro Wrestling Fundraiser” in conjunction with Impact Pro Wrestling at The Insight Health and Fitness Center (4500 Saginaw Street). The admission was $10 for adults and free for kids to raise money to replace the E-Gaming room equipment stolen during an overnight break-in at SBEV last month.
Audrey Medin, Director of Education at SBEV, went on to explain further that an unknown man broke through a window near a preschool classroom two weeks before the start of their STEM program summer session. The missing items consisted of laptops, televisions, and several Xbox game systems, adding up to $60,000.
Program Coordinator, pro-wrestler, and Flint native
Ren Jones reached out to Impact Wrestling along with fellow wrestlers “Black Diamond” Jack Price, Jake Something, Rohit Raju, Xavier Walker, and Karam to perform for the fundraiser charity event.
Jones explained that it felt fulfilling to give these kids the opportunity that he wanted as a child. He didn’t have much money to witness the big pro wrestling shows in person, but with this opportunity, the kids are able to see not just any wrestlers but world-class wrestlers that have worked on TV as well as for Impact Wrestling. Jones was pleased he could bring
Big-Time Wrestling to Flint for a great cause.
Athletic Director Timothy Jones stated this is a big month for SBEV. On July 29, the center is sponsoring the second annual Antidote Fest in Brush Park downtown, headlined by Louie Ray, and the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament happens on July 29-30.
SBEV continues to get stronger since the break-in on the main campus and plans to open several community center branches in the states of Iowa, New York, and Chicago moving forward.
Scroll below to see highlights from the 'Lockdown Pro Wrestling Fundraiser':
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Pro-wrestlers pulled out all the stops for the 'Lockdown Pro Wrestling Fundraiser' at Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village on Thursday, July 13, 2023. (Rayford Gray | Flintside)
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Excited kids gather around a pro-wrestler during the 'Lockdown Pro Wrestling Fundraiser' at Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village on Thursday, July 13, 2023. (Rayford Gray | Flintside)
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An excited group of kids cheer during a match at the 'Lockdown Pro Wrestling Fundraiser' at Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village on Thursday, July 13, 2023. (Rayford Gray | Flintside)
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Pro-wrestlers pulled out all the stops for the 'Lockdown Pro Wrestling Fundraiser' at Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village on Thursday, July 13, 2023. (Rayford Gray | Flintside)
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A corner shot of the ring at the 'Lockdown Pro Wrestling Fundraiser' at Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village on Thursday, July 13, 2023. (Rayford Gray | Flintside)
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Flint native Ren Jones in the ring at the 'Lockdown Pro Wrestling Fundraiser' at Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village on Thursday, July 13, 2023. (Rayford Gray | Flintside)
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Flint native Ren Jones in the ring at the 'Lockdown Pro Wrestling Fundraiser' at Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village on Thursday, July 13, 2023. (Rayford Gray | Flintside)
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An excited group of kids enjoys a match at the 'Lockdown Pro Wrestling Fundraiser' at Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village on Thursday, July 13, 2023. (Rayford Gray | Flintside)
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An excited group of kids cheer during a match at the 'Lockdown Pro Wrestling Fundraiser' at Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village on Thursday, July 13, 2023. (Rayford Gray | Flintside)
For more information on the Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village's future events, donations, or volunteering opportunities, visit: sbev.org
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