"I fought for my country; now it is my responsibility to fight for my community."
-SMatthews
Executive Director
lSteven Lee Matthews, the welterweight people’s champ of Greensboro, N.C., and a Greensboro native, served in 2003’s Iraqi Enduring Freedom War he was promoted to a United States Army Sergeant at the young age of 19.
A proud father, certified US amateur boxing coach, community organizer, and visionary. In 2015, he founded Punch4Pounds KIDS, "developing today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders through combat sports, the selfless service of mentoring, and the advocacy of healthy thinking." Matthews took the core values of soldiering and began empowering the youth of Piedmont Triad, North Carolina.
Through an alternative conflict resolution module, Punch4PoundsInc interrupts gang and gun violence by engaging people most at danger, meditating, and preventing retaliatory violence. Boxing is much more than a sport. This martial art promotes physical development, moral development, independence, self-control, and mental discipline while discouraging negative thought and action.
Punch4Pounds KIDS|Punch4PoundsINC has provided programs and services to people ages 4 to 24 through contracts with Communities in the Schools of Greensboro, Guilford, and Forsyth County Public Schools, the NCDPI 21st century grant, and NC Works. Since 2023, Punch4Pounds has served 350 youth and young adults. Previously serving on the JCPC board and the
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2020 Community Service Award Recipient, by Greensboro Club NANBPWC, Inc
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2021 Award of Excellence Recipient by BlackEmall
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2022 Leadership Greensboro Service Recipient by Leadership Greensboro
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2023 City of Greensboro and Cities United recognize Punch4PoundsINC as a Community Based Organization
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2023- Community Services Honoree by The Huami Magazine