Hansons Windows President Brian Elias Assists Olympic Boxing Hopeful

TROY, Mich. - July 18, 2013 - PRLog -- DETROIT, MI – Citing her determination as being an inspiration to him, Hansons Windows President Brian Elias has been so impressed by a local Olympic boxing hopeful that he has been contributing financially to her training.

Elias is enamored with the passion exhibited by Detroit’s Monayah Patterson, who hopes to win Olympic gold in boxing at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Patterson’s path to the Olympics continues with the Ringside World Championships, which begin in Kansas City, MO on July 29.

Patterson has been busy raising money to defray costs of her training and travel expenses, even going so far as standing on area street corners asking for donations—with championship belts draped around her shoulders.

Some of her fundraising has been aided by Elias, the owner of one of the nation’s most successful windows, roofing and siding companies, who has contributed financially in the past—once even assisting Patterson in getting back home when she ran out of money in Spokane, WA, where she had been boxing in a tournament.

“When somebody wants something bad enough, who am I to send them away?” Elias said. “A little bit of support goes a long way.”

So far, it’s gone a long way for Patterson, who got into boxing at age 13 after being inspired by her sister, LaTonya King, who decided to take boxing lessons after street thugs beat up their younger brother, Calvin. Patterson tagged along for the lessons, and she’s been addicted to boxing ever since. She won her first national title at age 14.

Patterson joined Detroit’s The Downtown Boxing Gym, where she trains five days a week. Recently, Patterson spent a couple weeks training with The Money Team in Las Vegas, which is owned by world champion Floyd Mayweather.

Hansons Windows’ Elias, one of Patterson’s biggest supporters, has a message for his fellow business owners.

“If all the business leaders did a little something for a few people it could make a huge difference in their lives.”

No one would agree more than Monayah Patterson, who hopes to join with LaTonya King to be the first sisters to win Olympic medals in boxing, in 2016.

For more information about Hansons Windows and interviews with Brian Elias, please contact Eaman Gaggos at 248.581.3030 ext. 2301 or egaggos@hansons.com.