KEITH THURMAN RECEIVES THE ‘CHAMPION FOR YOUTH’ AWARD FROM CLEARWATER FOR YOUTH ORGANIZATION

Boxing’s Unified Welterweight Champion Honored at Organization’s Annual Event; Thurman Joins Steve Spurrier, Larry Bird, Tommy LaSorda, the late Roy Halladay as Award’s Recipients

February 28, 2018 – CLEARWATER, FL - Keith Thurman, the current unified WBA and WBC Welterweight World Champion, received the thirty-third annual “Champion for Youth” award by the Clearwater for Youth organization this past Saturday. Thurman was presented the award for his “virtue, character and athletic contributions” for the area’s youth. He joins past “Champion for Youth” recipients Steve Spurrier, Tommy LaSorda, Larry Bird, Joe Maddon, the late Roy Halladay and others.

Thurman was presented the "J. Warren Hughes Champion for Youth" award by Brian Aungst Sr., former Mayor of Clearwater and Chairman of the Board for Clearwater for Youth. Also receiving awards that night were Spurrier for the “Outstanding Achievement in Sports” award and local businessman John Thomas receiving the Humanitarian award. The organization also presented 12 scholarships that night at the 45th annual awards.

In his acceptance speech Thurman emphasized how important the Clearwater for Youth programs and the Clearwater Parks and Recreation programs were to him and his career. “If it wasn’t for those programs created for kids like me, I would never have entered the sport of boxing. I met Ben Getty through these programs and it was the time spent at those centers that first trained me. It gave me an outlet after school that turned into my profession. These programs were and still are instrumental to our youth and giving them a purpose and outlet for their future. I respect all of you that reached out to help one of these kids to grow, because you didn’t have to, yet you did.”

Shown with his award, Keith Thurman, Jr. and Brian Aungst Sr. Former Mayor of Clearwater and Chairman of the Board for Clearwater For Youth.