Brute Wrestling donates the largest gift ever to the Beat the Streets USA initiative

Brute Wrestling donates the largest gift ever to the Beat the Streets USA initiative
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By Beat the Streets USA  07/14/2011 Brute Wrestling has donated over 3,400 singlets, 1,740 ear guards and 500 wrestling shoes to the Beat the Streets USA program.  The Brute donation, valued at up to $125,000, provides essential equipment to newly created programs, which are vitally necessary to launch a new program.  The mission of the Beat the Streets program is to expand wrestling by nationalizing the sport into every major city in America.  The 2010 U.S. census reflects the growth of the population moving back cities, with over 62% of the country now living in the top 50 cities in America. The last frontier for wrestling is Urban America. Wrestling needs more wrestlers and America needs Wrestling! Beat the Streets USA Chairman Al Bevilacqua testifies to the importance of the gift on behalf of the entire Beat the Streets initiative. “This equipment is very valuable in the development of any new program, especially in urban schools where the lack of resources has always been an excuse not to introduce wrestling into the curriculum or afterschool program,” he said. “In order to sell a city school system on wrestling we must take the finances off the table especially in today’s economic downturn. Mats and equipment are the largest budgeted items in beginning a program.  “The Brute Wrestling donation helps other cities to consider joining the movement knowing that we have such great support from the wrestling community,” said Bevilacqua. In the 2006, the New York City Partnership with the Department of Education, Mike Novogratz, the Chairman of the Beat the Streets Board in New York, made it abundantly clear that the organization would provide the mats, shoes, uniforms and other equipment.  Beat the Streets-NYC only wanted access to the schools and was able to secure 1,200 donors from 29 states to help expand the program from one inaugural middle school in 2005 to over 120 middle and high school teams. Since last year, Beat the Streets USA has received inquiries from many cities seeking information on how to join the movement.  The cities involved now are New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Milwaukee, Columbus, St. Louis, Norfolk and Hartford. It is a simple formula: “Wrestling Needs More Wrestling and More Fans.” To reach the goals of this program, we need more help! “Now, 4,000 kids new to wrestling will wear a new singlet and a new ear guard this season thanks to Brute. You will be amazed how much this means to kids in Urban America,” said Bevilacqua. Follow the Beat the Streets USA program on www.btsusa.org, Facebook and Twitter About Brute Wrestling As the first U.S. company to sell wrestling products by mail order, Brute Wrestling originated in 1967 as the Henson Company, Inc. in the residence of its founder, Captain Josiah Henson. Today under the trade name, Brute Wrestling, the company continues to provide a complete line of top quality wrestling products and apparel to sporting goods dealers for amateur and professional athletic clubs and teams; and other buyers all over North America. For more information on Brute wrestling visit http://brute.com/ and follow Brute Wrestling on Facebook http://on.fb.me/BruteFacebook.