20 | JULY 25 • 2024 
J
N

The First Lady of

J

ackie Kallen, known as “The First 
Lady of Boxing,
” will take part in 
a benefit to help “Knockout Skin 
Cancer” at the Steinway Piano Gallery in 
Commerce Township from 6-9 p.m. on 
Thursday, Aug. 1.
Kallen rose to fame as one of boxing’s 
first and most successful female managers, 
most notably working with Multi-Weight 
World Champion James Toney. Kallen 
lives in the Detroit area and still manages 
three professional boxers.
Kallen was inducted into the Michigan 
Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and 
was inducted into the International Boxing 
Hall of Fame last month. 
In addition to Kallen, there will be other 
special guest appearances from the boxing 
world in attendance. 
The cost to attend the “Knockout 
Skin Cancer” benefit is $100 
per ticket, which includes hors 
d’
oeuvres and buffet prepared 
by Andiamo, complimentary 
valet parking, an open bar fea-
turing fine wine, craft cocktails 
and beer, music performed by The 
Blue Guitar, as well as a DJ, a sports 
memorabilia silent auction, 360 Photo 
Booth and the chance to win autographed 
boxing gloves. The evening’s ambiance is 
designed by Gerych’s Flowers & Events. 
While Kallen is excited for what’s going 
to be a night of fun and entertainment, the 
event is also very personal to her. 
Kallen got her first skin cancer diagnosis 
38 years ago when she was 40 years old. 
She’s had several squamous cells and basal 
cells along with overcoming two bouts of 
malignant melanoma. 
“When I was young, I didn’t have sun-
screen and things like that. We actually 
went the other way — we did whatever 
we could to get the darkest tan. We didn’t 
realize the danger of the sun’s rays in 
large doses,” Kallen said. “I haven’t laid 
out in the sun since I was 40, when I first 
found out I had a propensity for this. It’s 

something people need to be aware of — 
anybody can get skin cancer.”
Alkawther Gerych, creator of the 
Michigan-based UEmpower Foundation, 
is spearheading the benefit. Gerych’s hus-
band, Jon Gerych, is also a skin cancer 
survivor. Monies raised from the benefit 
will go directly to support patients of all 
ages needing assistance with financial and 
emotional care, along with health classes. 
Kallen has been in boxing for 45 years 
now. Her life was the inspiration for the 
2004 film Against the Ropes, starring 
Meg Ryan as Kallen. She also worked as 
a consultant for the reality TV series The 
Contender with Sylvester Stallone. 
Kallen is excited to receive another 
award at Little Caesars Arena on July 27 
where boxing superstar and two-
time Olympic Gold medalist 
Claressa Shields will present 
her first-ever “GWOAT” 
(Greatest Woman Of All 
Time) award to Kallen. 
The award recognizes 
Kallen’s “leadership, accom-
plishments and embodi-
ment of what it means to be a 
‘Greatest Woman of All Time.’”
“When I can do an event like this, tak-
ing my boxing background and mixing 
it with a good cause, it just comes all 
together for me,” Kallen said. “I certainly 
want to raise awareness for my kids and 
grandkids and their generations about 
the dangers of exposure to the sun with-
out sunscreen. I hope they will be a little 
more diligent, because it’s the damage 
you get when you’re young that comes 
back to bite you years later. 
“It’s a very unpleasant form of cancer 
that can be very disfiguring. If we save 
one person from going through what 
I’ve gone through, then I consider it a 
worthy cause.” 

Get your tickets at https://uempower.org/event/

uempower-together-with-jackie-kallen.

OUR COMMUNITY

Jackie Kallen to appear at 
“Knockout Skin Cancer” benefi
 t.

DANNY SCHWARTZ
SENIOR STAFF
REPORTER

Alkawther 
Gerych, (left) 
president of 
the UEmpower 
Foundation, 
teamed up with 
Jackie Kallen for the 
“Knockout Skin Cancer” 
benefit on Aug. 1.

Jackie Kallen
and James
Toney

