Mission Receives Largest Sum From Bengal Bouts

By Amanda Greco

(Article taken from the Notre Dame Student Newspaper, The Observer - Fall, 2001)

Prominent members of the Holy Cross Mission and Bengal Bouts organization gathered Tuesday afternoon on the front porch of Corby Hall for the presentation of the largest donation the Bouts has yet given to the Bangladesh Missions.

Generated by fundraising from last semester’s Bengal Bouts, the check was presented to Father James Rahilly, former director of the Holy Cross Mission, and Father Joe Peixotto, a Bangladesh missionary for the past 39 years.

"It’s remarkable what has happened with Bengal Bouts over the last two years . . . this last year especially," said Peixotto about the record $77,000 donation.

Now in its 72nd year, the Bengal Bouts has seen a tremendous increase in fundraising over the last five years, according to Rahilly.

"Previously, we would be receiving checks ranging from $18,000 to $26,000," Rahilly said. "But it has been increasing yearly. Last year, we received $51,000 and that was tremendous," Rahilly added.

Each year, the Bengal Bouts gathers financial support from the sale of program advertising space, alumni donations and ticket sales for the spring boxing event. One hundred percent of the revenue earned goes to charity.

Adding to the soaring numbers are the women boxers, who help the men with the sale of T-shirts and tickets and also host their own fundraiser, The Power Hour, in the fall. The women involved in this fundraiser receive pledges for the amount of push-ups, sit-ups and jumping jacks they can perform within an hour’s time.

"I can’t think of a better way to do charity than to combine a sport with a very worthy cause," said Kari Jerge, president of the women’s team. Women’s team captain, Katie Schwerdtmann agrees. "Getting all the girls together working out in the same room and working for the same cause shows that this event is truly about the people," Schwerdtmann added.

Though $77,000 may not seem like much when a student considers what he or she spends on his or her education, that money means much more to the hungry and poor in Bangladesh. According to Peixotto, the conversion rate from the Bangladesh taka to the American dollar is 55:1. For Rahilly, this is one of the most important lessons encompassed by the Bouts.

"It really shows how little we understand the value of our money," Rahilly said.

All donations go to the Holy Cross Mission and are delegated for various purposes throughout Bangladesh.

In Dhaka, where the Holy Cross-founded Notre Dame College is located, donations are used for various purposes including schooling, disaster relief, clinics, food and the institution of social projects involving the thousands of people who receive the benefit of these donations. Also established in Dhaka is a literacy school attended by 1,200 students, a sick shelter for the disadvantaged seeking medical treatment and a hostel for children in distress.

For the Notre Dame students directly involved with the fundraising efforts, perspectives have been altered and sobering lessons have been learned. Admittedly, most students entered the Bouts for the boxing, knowing little about the true purpose behind the fights. Bengal Bouts senior officer Rob Joyce describes his involvement in the Bouts as a "dualistic approach. I wanted to do something for charity and to feed hungry mouths but I also wanted to keep in shape," Joyce said.

Beyond the healthy hearts and lean muscles, the benefits of the boxing matches help to "make it [the competition] more important," said senior officer Mark Criniti. Occasionally, the organization receives letters of gratitude from Bangladesh missionaries and children alike.

"Seeing firsthand the hard work that is put forth helps to make us realize what our work goes to," said Matt Fumagalli, Bengal Bouts president.

That sentiment is nothing new in the Bouts. Coach Tom Suddes is now in his 31st year with the Bouts. "It’s a whole different experience of being able to say this is a great program," Suddes said.

The organizers would like to see the numbers and support continue to rise. "Our goal is to make it [the donation] an even greater amount, maybe to reach the $100,000 mark," Fumagalli said.

Plans are in the making for more fundraising, rallying more support and gaining more publicity. "We’d like to see more campus involvement with students," Fumagalli said. "You can ask anyone involved and they will tell you this is the best thing they’ve ever done at Notre Dame."