Battle Creek Native Honors Grandmother's Legacy With Boxing Club That Gives Youth a Fighting Chance

When Courtney Hoover lost his grandmother Bessie Mae in 2019, he could have let grief consume him. Instead, he chose to honor her memory by becoming the kind of person she always believed he could be.

Bessie Mae was the kind of woman who defined community. She was charitable to a fault, always ready to help a neighbor or family member in need. But she was also clear about her boundaries.

As Hoover recalls, she told him directly: "As long as you're doing the wrong thing, I won't support you, but if you do the right thing, I got you."

Those words became the foundation for Still Hope Boxing Club, a non-profit Hoover founded right here in Battle Creek.

The name itself carries a message he wants every young person to hear: there is still hope in this community, still hope in these young individuals, still hope in humanity, empathy, and love.

More Than Just Boxing

Walk into Still Hope Boxing Club and you will find more than punching bags and training equipment. You will find a place where kids learn to channel their anger into something productive.

Where teens discover that vulnerability is not weakness. Where young people who felt lost find direction.

Hoover teaches self-defense, discipline, and confidence. But the real lessons go deeper.

He shows kids that it is okay to cry, okay to say you are upset, and okay to ask for help. The boxing is just the hook.

The transformation is the goal.

"If you're angry, learn how to channel your anger in a different direction," Hoover tells his students.

That message resonated with 15-year-old Giovanni Wilkis, who found himself slipping down a dangerous path. Frequent absences from school and failing grades had become his norm. Then he discovered Still Hope.

A Second Chance

Wilkis credits Hoover with being the father figure he needed. Through boxing, he found not just a hobby but a reason to show up... for school, for practice, for himself.

His attendance improved. His grades came up. Most importantly, he found confidence to stand up for himself and others.

"I used to not care about a lot of things, especially not school," Wilkis admits. "I just wanted to change that and put myself on a better path so I can succeed in life."

Stories like Wilkis's are why Hoover keeps going.

They are proof that his grandmother's legacy lives on, not just in the name of the organization but in every young life transformed.

Bessie Mae's Helping Hand

Hoover did not stop with the boxing club. He also started Bessie Mae's Helping Hand, continuing the charitable work his grandmother modeled. He regularly donates supplies and food to local shelters, often wearing her portrait on his back. It is his way of carrying her forward, just as she once carried him through childhood.

For Battle Creek, Still Hope Boxing Club represents something vital: proof that one person's commitment can spark real change.

That loss can become legacy. That hope, even in difficult times, is still very much alive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can I enroll my child in Still Hope Boxing Club?
A: Contact Courtney Hoover directly through the Still Hope Boxing Club social media pages or visit their location in Battle Creek to learn about membership options and training schedules.

Q: Does Still Hope Boxing Club charge membership fees?
A: Still Hope operates as a non-profit organization. They focus on making boxing and mentorship accessible to local youth regardless of financial situation. Contact them directly for specific details about any program costs.

Q: How can I support Still Hope Boxing Club or Bessie Mae's Helping Hand?
A: Community support through donations of boxing equipment, supplies, or food items for shelter outreach is always welcome. You can also help by spreading the word about their programs to families who might benefit.