Aug 26, 2008 2:53 pm US/Eastern
Wilkinsburg Gym Hopes To Change Kids' Lives
Reporting
Bob Allen
WILKINSBURG (KDKA) ―
A new gym in Wilkinsburg is shaping more than some children's' bodies, it's shaping their lives as well.
It's a story about two men from different races, backgrounds and communities who both have the same vision – they want to stop senseless crimes among young people.
They hope to do this by bringing back the age old sport of boxing.
A former abandoned building is now the "Gym of Future Champs."
It started as a dream not long after local businessman Randy Castriota met Larry Chisolm, a former prison inmate.
The two men formed an instant friendship.
"I said I have a nice apartment for you. I'll rent it to you up in Dormont," said Castriota. "I said, 'Do you need a job?' and he said "Yeah, I've only had one job in my 62 years of life.' I guess it was like God saying, ask him what are your dreams and he said, "Starting a boxing club for the youth, to get them off the streets.'"
"He said, 'What are your dreams?," said Chisolm. "I said I want to do an anti-crime, anti-gang violence amateur pro-boxing outreach program with a mentoring program to go with it."
From there, Castriota got sponsors and got the building from the borough.
"Well, it's divine intervention. Plus, I believe in dreams and hopes," said Castriota. "I'm a successful person. I know I can't fail."
"He's been with me ever since," said Chisolm. "He's been there for me since 2004 in every way. I've never seen anybody, especially a man of his caliber."
Castriota says he saw something in Chisolm that showed he had a lot to offer young people.
Chisolm spent 48 years in prison and hopes to teach the kids not to make the mistakes he made.
He hopes to open gyms in other parts of the community.
The goal is to change as many hearts and lives as possible.
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