MBA students host fundraiser for Smokin’ Joe Frazier Foundation
Project part of service learning component of MBA leadership course
Former world heavyweight boxing champion “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier will be in Erie at a fundraiser for his foundation on Friday, April 20. The event, organized and hosted by students in the Master of Business Administration program at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will raise funds to benefit Frazier’s newly established foundation, which is partnering with Erie’s Trinity Center to develop a boxing/wellness youth center in Erie.
The event is open to the public and will be held in the Junker Center at Penn State Behrend. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the evening’s presentation starting soon after. A suggested donation of $10 per attendee will be collected at the door. For more information or reservations, e-mail joefrazier@psu.edu.
Along with Smokin’ Joe, the evening will feature a live auction of memorabilia, including a set of boxing gloves signed by Smokin’ Joe, George Foreman, and Muhammad Ali. An autograph session with Smokin’ Joe Frazier will be at the end of the event.
All proceeds from the event and auction will benefit the Smokin’ Joe Frazier Foundation for the establishment of the Erie center, to be located on West 18th Street in the former Johnson and Flick Tire Center. The location will be transformed into a boxing/wellness fitness center that will help kids and families get into shape by providing a number of unique programs that focus on fitness, nutrition, and education, as well as build confidence and self-esteem.
The West 18th Street location has already been purchased by Trinity Center, a program of Bethesda Children’s Home that provides drug and alcohol prevention services with an emphasis on education. Bethesda Children’s Home developed an affiliation with the Fraziers two years ago with the establishment of Bethesda’s own boxing program at the Trinity Center on West 18th Street in Erie. In exchange for Bethesda assisting the Fraziers in establishing programs for kids in Philadelphia, the Fraziers are helping Bethesda Children’s Home develop a boxing gym in Erie comparable to theirs in Philadelphia.
Smokin’ Joe was heavyweight champion of the world from 1968 to 1973. Born in South Carolina, Frazier was raised in Philadelphia. Prior to beginning his professional boxing career, he was an Olympic gold medalist in 1964.
He began boxing professionally in 1965. He is most recognized for his trilogy of fights with Muhammad Ali, his former chief rival. With a career record of 32 wins, four losses, one draw, with 27 wins by knock-out, Frazier is widely regarded as one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time. He is actively involved in strengthening urban youth through the “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier Foundation, which endeavors to produce “Life Champions” through grants for organizations that have activities, programs, and services that result in true change in the quality of life for urban youth and families through community commitment, collaboration, and partnership.
Marvis Frazier, Smokin’ Joe’s son, will also speak at the event. Marvis, a former boxer himself, is a motivational speaker who travels the country speaking on topics such as faith, perseverance, and success.
Zack Harper, Ben Schlosser and Ethan Rice are students in Michael Brown’s Leadership Seminar (B ADM 521), part of the M.B.A. program in the Sam and Irene Black School of Business. Brown is an assistant professor of management and structures this course to provide students with the opportunity to learn to lead.
“There is a substantial ‘knowing-doing’ gap in the domain of leadership,” Brown said. “Understanding how to lead effectively is important. But knowing what to do is not enough. Although many individuals and organizations are familiar with the ‘ABCs’ of effective leadership, they have a hard time putting these principles into practice. Research suggests that the best way to learn to lead is to lead. This course is based on that premise and utilizes an experiential learning approach.”
“Our assignment was to raise money for a non-profit organization,” Harper said. “Once we found out about the great things the foundation was already doing in Philadelphia and the tremendous benefit this would bring to Erie, we thought it was something that would be incredible to be part of. We think that this is a great foundation that will help many children in the Erie community, and the success of this event will help achieve this goal.”
Kathy Noce, lecturer in management information systems and director of Partnership Erie, an outreach program of the Black School, has done work with the Fraziers and their foundation in the past and was aware of the intention to bring their program to Erie. She has worked with the students and is serving as the faculty coordinator of the event. “Without her involvement, this event would not be taking place,” Brown said.
More information about the foundation can be found at www.frazierfoundation.org. Information about Trinity Center can be found at www.bethesda-home.org/programs/trinity.htm.
The Sam and Irene Black School of Business at Penn State Behrend offers one associate, nine baccalaureate and two graduate degree programs, as well as two certificates in financial planning and SAP. The Black School of Business is accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which is the leading accrediting agency for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting.