In Feasterville, Pennsylvania, boxing is a family tradition for Joe Hand Jr., and he says that tradition now reaches beyond the ring.
A legacy of boxing runs in the Hand family. Joe Hand Jr.’s father was part of Joe Frazier’s career, including Frazier’s 1971 win against Muhammad Ali.
Now, Joe Hand Jr. said the family is focused on passing the sport on to the next generation.
“My parents were both police officers in the city of Philadelphia, and they saw firsthand on their job what a good…youth program means to a certain community group,” said Joe Hand Jr., president of Joe Hand Promotions.
“In the spirit of my parents, still try to keep their legacy alive and what they wanted to see happen with our company and in giving back to the community,” he continued.
Through a partnership with the Autism Cares Foundation, the group is helping build confidence and strength for people who step into the ring.
“They opened their doors to us, their coaches give all of our participants an experience in a very safe and welcoming environment. They get to work out, they get to train, and they build confidence along the way. So we are incredibly happy they’ve chosen us as one of their community partners,” said Kim Smith, chief operations officer at Autism Cares Foundation.
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