Coach Al Lowe Boxing Club Receives $5,000 Travel Grant from NC Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission

The Greensboro Parks Foundation Executive Director Paula Barger announced today that the Coach Al Lowe Boxing Club has been awarded a $5,000 Youth Sports Grant from the North Carolina Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission (NCYOEC) to support travel expenses for youth boxers competing in USA Boxing sanctioned tournaments throughout 2026.

The grant will enable young athletes from the club to participate in official competitive boxing events for youth in grades 4-12, providing structured competition where they can develop discipline, sportsmanship, and athletic skills. The funding will cover event entry fees, transportation, lodging, and meals for qualified boxers and their certified coaches.

"This grant is a game-changer for our young athletes," said Tom James, an alumnus of the Coach Al Lowe Boxing Club and longtime supporter of the program. "I grew up in this gym, and I know firsthand that travel opportunities open doors far beyond the ring. When you take kids who've never left their neighborhood and give them a chance to compete across the state and beyond, you're not just funding a trip, you're funding dreams, confidence, and a vision of what's possible."

Located at Lindley Park Recreation Center, 2907 Springwood Dr., the Coach Al Lowe Boxing Club is Greensboro's only City-run boxing facility, welcoming teens and adults four evenings a week for $40 annually. Named in honor of Coach Alfred "Al" Lowe, who organized the program in the 1970s and devoted decades to training and mentoring young people, the club is now led by Rob Chapman, himself an alumnus who trained under Coach Lowe.

"For many of our young boxers, competing in sanctioned tournaments means their first opportunity for extended travel, their first medal, and their first taste of what they can achieve when given the opportunity," said Barger. "This grant from the North Carolina Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission ensures that talent and hard work, not zip code or family income, determine who gets in the ring. We're deeply grateful to the Commission for investing in these young athletes and recognizing the transformative power of access to competition."

Transportation for tournament travel is provided at no cost by the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department through their activity bus service. The NCYOEC grant will cover other essential expenses that have previously limited participation opportunities for qualified boxers.

Community members who wish to support the Coach Al Lowe Boxing Club and help provide ongoing travel opportunities for young athletes can make tax-deductible donations through Greensboro Parks Foundation at: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/alloweboxingclub/