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Pay It Forward: Putting Kids On The Right Track

The Muscatine County Boxing Club is in the middle of its season. The athletes are competing and working towards goals and one man is a huge part of their succes...
The Muscatine County Boxing Club is in the middle of its season.
The athletes are competing and working towards goals and one man is a huge part of their success in and out of the ring.
His friends and colleagues say his volunteering is making a huge difference for the Muscatine community.
"He's one of those guys who got on the right track and is bringing everyone with him,"  Katie Watson is talking about Santos Saucedo.
"On behalf of News 8 and Ascentra Credit Union we would like to Pay It Forward and give you this 300 dollars because of the work you do with students at the college as well as what you do with the Muscatine County Boxing Club.  The time, the effort a lot of people talk about todays youth and they do a lot of complaining about their lack of discipline or skills or dedication but not many people open their homes and their life and give all of the time to make that better and improve those skills.  We are just proud to know you my friend," said Watson.
In 2012 Sanots started the Muscatine County Boxing Club in his basement.
He said, "Its something to keep them off the streets something to keep them in a productive environment and its something that we want to give them opportunity to look for something better."
The club expanded to his garage and then a building near the downtown.

Its about more than just boxing.

Santos stresses dedication in and out of the ring.

"A lot of these kids come from broken homes.  They're being raised by their grandparents they don't have something as an opportunity for something more," said Santos.
A part time professor at Muscatine Community College, Santos also pushes the importance of education and how his GED and higher degrees have led to his success with Monsanto.
"Were trying to guide them down the right direction and get them a better education and getting some life skills that will be positive for them in the future" said Santos.
Marve Smith from Muscatine Community College had more good things about all that Santos does for the area, "where ever you find Santos he's always encouraging people to move forward."
Santos says the more you give, the more you get.
"Its really been a big blessing to me to reach out to so many kids and see their success.  I do a lot of positive affirmation, I give them a ton of positive reinforcement and giving them that belief in themselves.  For me to see there success is my success."

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