Fight Night 2008
October 7th, 2008 by JD Kathuria
Fight Night was recently named by BizBash magazine as the number one benefit in Washington. This year’s event, which takes place Thursday, November 6, at the Hilton Washington, is expected to draw over 2,000 of Washington’s leaders in business, politics, sports, and the media to promote the quality of education in Washington, DC schools. We caught up with Fred Schaufeld, founder and chairman of NEW Customer Service Companies, who’ll serve as chairman of the 2008 event, and here talks about why he is involved in Fight Night.
What is Fight Night?
Fred Schaufeld: Fight Night is a fundraising arm of Fight For Children, a nonprofit organization that promotes the quality of education in Washington, DC schools. Fight Night, fashioned off an “old time smoker,” has raised almost $25 million over the years. The event features a parade of legendary boxers, including Jake LaMotta, Joe Frazier, Jerry Cooney and Roberto Duran, live entertainment, a laser show, a high-energy dance routine by the Washington Redskin Cheerleaders and several bouts of professional boxing.
How did Fight Night begin?
Fred Schaufeld: Fight Night was created in 1990 by businessman and philanthropist Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Chairman of the J.E. Robert Companies, as a way to return some of his success to the community. Joe was an amateur boxer who absolutely loved the fight game. One of his first community initiatives was the creation of the Alexandria Boxing Club which, to this day, is still a beneficiary of Fight Night.
Why did you sign on as chairman this year?
Fred Schaufeld: Chuck Kuhn, Fight Night Chairman for the past two years, asked me to co-chair the event last year, and I loved working with him and the team at Fight For Children. Helping kids get a quality education and stay healthy so they can go to school are things that everyone can get behind. Every chairman is different, but we have all worked hard to raise the bar consistently year to year. Chuck will certainly be a hard act to follow, but I’m up for the challenge and personally thrilled to have this opportunity.
Can you tell us a little bit about this year’s charities?
Fred Schaufeld: Fight Night raises money for Fight For Children as well as dozens of other charities serving kids in Washington, DC. Fight For Children focuses on educational and health care initiatives to ensure that all children in the nation’s capital have opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed. Other beneficiaries include the Alexandria Boxing Club, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the National Capital Area, Children’s National Medical Center, DC Scores, Washington Scholarship Fund, to name a few. In 2002, Fight For Children introduced the “Chairman’s Choice,” which gives the current Fight Night Chairman the unique opportunity to select a youth-serving organization to receive a substantial one-year grant. I’ve selected Children’s National Medical Center as my choice for 2008.
Why Children’s National Medical Center?
Fred Schaufeld: My son faced a serious health challenge when he was very young. Children’s Hospital was there for my son and my family, and I will always be grateful to them.
Are tickets and tables still available?
Fred Schaufeld: You mean for the 20th anniversary next year? Of course! Actually, there are a handful of sponsorships for this year’s event still available, something that is almost never available. If anyone is interested in tickets or being a sponsor, they should call Liz Warnecki at 202-772-0416 or liz.warnecki@fightforchildren.org.
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