KnockOuts For Girls Executive Board:



Pattianna
Co-Founder and President

Pattianna grew up in Reading, Massachusetts and names her parents as her heroes and role models. They encouraged her from an early age to give back and had her involved in many volunteer programs. After graduating from UMASS, Amherst with a Sociology degree, she gave a year of service through the Vincentian Service Corps, teaching Art and Physical Education in southeast Washington, DC. She then spent several winters in ski towns and summers on Nantucket, waiting tables and substitute teaching. Eventually, she went back to school to earn a teaching credential and Master’s degree in Education before teaching English and Drama at Fremont High School in south central Los Angeles. Pattianna left teaching to pursue a dream of writing and upon completing her first novel, signed with Creative Artists Agency. She recently took the GRE’s and was accepted into the graduate professional writing program at USC. However, KnockOuts For Girls is keeping her so busy, she had to defer her acceptance. Pattianna’s experiences teaching at inner city schools showed her first hand, the need for programs such as KO4G. Boxing brought discipline and structure to her life, along with confidence and a sense of empowerment that she wanted to share with others. She parlayed her love for boxing and her passion to help others to create KnockOuts For Girls.



Wendy
Vice President
Wendy was born in Australia and raised in both Florida and Puerto Rico. Wendy participated in Perfect 10 boxing events as both a boxer and a producer. She was undefeated for Perfect 10 with two wins, before retiring from the ring. Now, Wendy prefers to work behind the scenes and keeps the sport close to her heart by acting as KO4G’s ring card girl. Aside from her numerous volunteer duties for KO4G, she works in copyright law. Wendy is fascinated by the diversity in cultures and spends her free time traveling the world. She is currently studying Japanese and looks forward to utilizing her newfound knowledge of the language in her future travels.



Tanjareen
Director of Communications
Tanjareen holds a BA degree in TV & Film Production from C.S.U. Northridge.  This Inglewood native has guest-starred on: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Days of Our Lives, Without a Trace, Girlfriends, Strong Medicine, The Sarah Silverman Program, Howard Stern, The Vegan Vixen Show, The Steve Harvey Show, The Parkers, For Your Love, Arliss, VIP, City, & several national commercials.  Her film credits include: Miss March, Johnson Family Vacation, Love For Sale, National Lampoon’s Cattle Call, and Only in America.  Currently she can be heard live every Wed night on SIRIUS-XM SATELLITE RADIO with a roundtable of comics on Jamie Foxx’s The Foxxhole 106/149.  Since pledging Delta Sigma Theta public service sorority, Tanjareen volunteers for several charity programs on a regular basis.  In fact, she’s helped with KO4G since its inception.  Being a victim of domestic violence, she has a huge heart for helping girls realize their self-worth.  As her career continues to grow, this actor/model/host/producer/sketch comic/boxer plans to use her “Celebrity Muscle” to open safe houses for abused women & children.
www.tanjareen.com



Tania
Director of the KnockOuts For Girls San Diego Chapter, Recruitment Director for San Diego, and Director of Gym Sponsorships
Tania’s passion for philanthropy started at an early age.  She used to volunteer her time as a math tutor for her peers.  In college, when Tania was dancing professionally in a hip hop troupe called Phaze II, she continued helping others in homeless shelters and at the children’s hospital in Stanford.  Being in a dance troupe in her hometown, San Jose, California, Tania learned the importance of giving back and how wonderful it is to affect even just one person.  After transferring to San Diego State to study business, she volunteered in elementary schools as a weekly guest reader and helped students with after school activities. 
Upon graduation, Tania moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career in the entertainment industry.  She currently models, acts professionally and has appeared in several well-known publications as well as commercials.  She loves what KnockOuts for Girls has to offer.  Since she has been boxing/kickboxing for several years, she realizes how exciting it is to give back and show people that you can do what you love and help others simultaneously. 
Today, Tania has 12 years of make-up artistry experience and is pursuing her own skin care line!



Nina Ann
Director of the KnockOuts For Girls Orange County Chapter & Boxing Lessons OC
Nina is a boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai Instructor at LA Boxing in Lake Forest.  Nina began training in boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai at The Boxing Club in San Diego with renowned 2-Time Muay Thai World Champion, Kru Mel Menor and 4-Time Boxing World Champion, “Dynamite” Danny Perez.  She then started competing and teaching at various health clubs and fight gyms in San Diego.  Back in Orange County, Nina continued her training at various gyms.  She also trained with Sot Chitalada, a 2-Time Muay Thai World Champion and a 2-Time W.B.C World Champion boxer.   Having an extensive foundation in Yoga, Nina trained at the Bikram Yoga Studio of India and YogaWorks for the past decade.  She also teaches yoga to fighters to increase their core strength, flexibility and awareness.



Lexy
Director of Interactive Marketing
Lexy was raised in Lakewood, CO, just outside of Denver.  In search of broader horizons, she found her independence and work ethic by self-financing out-of-state tuition at the University of Arizona, where she earned a BS in Communications.  Since graduating in 2005, she has continued her perpetual quest for knowledge and greater fulfillment of her mind/body potential.  As a boxing competitor in KO4G fundraising events, Lexy won her first fight by TKO in the second round.  She says, “Boxing has taught me mental discipline and the training has pushed me harder than any other sport I have pursued.” “Lights Out” Lexy also volunteers on several KO4G committees and has adopted a Little Knockout in our mentorship program.  Currently, Lexy trains at Impact Gym in Hermosa Beach and competes as an amateur boxer.  In addition, she regularly competes in local beach volleyball tournaments.  Lexy says, “Athletics have made a tremendous contribution to the person I am today.  There is great value in committing to a team and growing to rely on others while simultaneously becoming more reliable yourself.  I joined KO4G to teach and encourage young women to participate in that experience.”



KnockOuts For Girls Members:



Adrienne
Adrienne ‘The Adorable Assassin” Alegria is one of the newest additions to the Knockouts for Girls roster and has already proven to be a force to be reckoned with. Judging by her last decisive victory at our most recent charity event, it’s no wonder why they call her, ‘The Adorable Assassin.’ Adrienne is originally from the Los Angeles area where she still resides and continues to sharpen her skills. She began her passion for martial arts at an early age, being taught by her father alongside her twin sister and older brother; all attaining black belts by age 18. Adrienne has been boxing at the amateur level on and off since the age of 16 and is looking to sharpen her skills alongside the other Knockouts. Besides working a fulltime job, Adrienne also teaches martial arts to kids at the Boys and Girls Club of East L.A., Gold’s Gym in Commerce and the YMCA in Montebello.


Akira
Akira was born and raised with her sister and brother in Los Angeles by her maternal grandmother, who recently passed away.  Her father was a college student and worked full-time to help.  He passed away in a car accident when she was 15.   Akira’s mother has since been a steady and positive influence in her life.  While attending private all-girls schools, Akira took acting, dancing and gymnastics.  She attended University of Hawaii at Hilo, where she studied psychology and finished up at UCLA.  She will start classes this fall for a degree in Sports Medicine.  Acting is also a passion of Akira’s.  She has appeared many great television shows and movies, such as Two and A Half Men,  Entourage,  Crossing Over, Ghetto Physics, Just Jordan, and a Yahoo Pepsi Smash Commercial.  Akira currently works for her uncle’s Limousine Service at Norman Lewis Limousine Service.  A vegetarian since age 15, she loves staying fit, running and being positive.  After finding KO4G by an advertisement, she approached the organization to see how she could be a part of it.  Always one to give back, she also received a plaque from the City Of Carson for being a facilitator in the 12th Annual Youth Conference.



Amanda
Amanda was born and raised in West Virginia where she led her high school bowling team to the state championships. She moved to Los Angeles after graduating from the University of Virginia with a marketing degree. She works for Rip Curl as a regional manager, overseeing their store locations in Santa Monica and Santa Barbara. Amanda has helped KO4G significantly, securing Rip Curl as their sponsor for a photo shoot at Moonshadows in Malibu and is one of our most valued KnockOuts. Despite her demanding job with Rip Curl, she oversees many aspects of the production of our events. Like many of our KO’s, she is a huge animal lover and has four dogs, two of them rescued from the street.



Angie
Angelina, aka. Angie, was born and raise in Venice, California. The
eldest of three children, Angie describes herself as a beach girl.
She is outgoing, loves adrenaline and has a passion to help others.
Angie works at Krav Maga Worldwide where she first heard of KO4G.  She
is looking forward to taking the fitness instructor course this
September.  One of her goals is to fight in a boxing match.  Angelina
is currently studying Childhood Development. In high school, she was
part of a non-profit organization called “Teens and Toddlers.”   She
also volunteered at Beethoven Early Education Center and James Mcbride
Special Education Center.  Angelina is thrilled to help girls become
strong and independent while she strengthens these qualities in
herself.



Beth
Beth is one of four girls and calls Missouri home.  She has always been athletic and was the captain of her high school cheerleading squad, personally earning the United Cheerleading Association All American Cheerleaders Award all four years.  She attended college on partial scholarships for both music and academics, first at Southwest Missouri State and then completing her degree at California State Los Angeles.  Beth graduated with a degree in Business/Marketing and a minor in Theatre.  Currently, she is represented by the Brogan Agency for singing, acting, modeling and stand-up comedy.  She also works as an office manager at Soil Water Air Protection Enterprise, which is a consulting company for environmental litigation.  Beth finds fulfillment in making a difference and joined KO4G because there are so many ways for her to give back through them.  Beth believes that boxing has brought her a sense of confidence and empowerment that she never felt before.  She hopes her involvement will encourage others to try it.



Betsy
Betsy grew up in New Orleans with her two sisters and brother.  Her brother, whom she was very close to, succumbed to cancer a couple years ago.  She was very involved in his care during his illness.  A comedienne, actress, and model, she currently works at Opera in Hollywood.  Philanthropic by nature and actively involved in several charities, including KO4G, Betsy sets an example for others by always lending a helping hand and being more than happy to help anyone in need.  Her smile, infectious and her kindness contagious, we are happy to have her as a role model for underprivileged girls.



Brandy
Brandy is originally from upstate New York and moved to Los Angeles in 2005.   She loves California and the fact that she can surf in the morning, then jump in her car and end her day Snowboarding!  Laughter is truly her first love.  She performs stand-up comedy from time to time (which some people have told her takes more guts than stepping into the ring).  Brandy works full time as a personal assistant.  KO4G came to her when she was searching for something new and different in her life.  The training is the most challenging thing she’s ever experienced and she finds it incredibly empowering.  Brandy fought her first match in September at fellow KO, Yolanda’s fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  Since Brandy grew up in the Boys and Girls Club programs, they were a very important part of her childhood and she is happy to be giving back.  Aside from her work for KO4G, she has volunteered in many different organizations, even traveling to Africa in 2004 to help needy families.



Christie
Christie has helped KO4G significantly in the launching of it by fighting in their first event, despite being completely new to the sport and only training for six weeks.  Her innate athleticism and background in dancing enabled her to pick up the sport very quickly.  Christie grew up in Dallas, Texas, pursuing her love for acting in both television and film.  She modeled, appeared in numerous television commercials and landed her first big role as one of the leads, Samantha, in the hit children’s television series, Wishbone. It won multiple Emmy’s and the prestigious Peabody Award.  The character Christie played was a strong, independent, athletic girl - a character that shaped who Christie is today.  She hopes, through KO4G, that she can show girls the benefits of being involved in sports and that beauty transcends society’s archaic stereotypes.   As an actress on a children’s educational show, Christie was seen as a mentor and regularly gave guest readings and speeches at schools and libraries.  She is thrilled to once again, through KO4G, be active in the community.   Having moved to Los Angeles on her own at 18 to pursue her acting career, Christie knows first hand, the struggles of being a teenager and wants to share with girls the empowerment boxing brings to her life.  She does this through volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club in Venice where she is in charge of the weekly boxing lessons.



Lydia
Lydia is a co-founder of KnockOuts For Girls and the Director of Public Relations for the organization. She was born in Mountain View, California, the middle of three girls. A former military brat, her dad is retired from the Air Force. She considers Lompoc, CA her hometown. Lydia received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology from UCLA and is currently pursuing a career in acting and writing. She has mentored kids in the foster system through EASE IN and is an active Club Member of FOOD ON FOOT, an organization that feeds the homeless in Los Angeles. For publicity or public relations information, you may email Lydia at:
LydiaCastro@KnockOutsForGirls.org
www.lydiacastro.com



Breeze
Breeze grew up in Beverly Hills, Illinois and attended all girls, Catholic prep schools throughout high school in Chicago.  While in high school, she began to work professionally as an actress with lead roles in major productions such as, Fiddler on the Roof and The Dreamers (with an all-star cast).  She was nominated, by the Theatre Alliance Awards, for “Most Promising Actress.”  She also had a role in the Fox 20th Century Film, Light It Up.  At age 17, Breeze moved to California to attend California Institute of the Arts as a Theatre major.  She has always felt compassion towards animals and became a Vegetarian at the age of 12.  Currently, she is a Vegan and has a dog, named Ocean.  Breeze is a believer in holistic healing and is presently studying for her degree in Holistic Medicine.  She keeps a busy schedule with all of her studying, acting and modeling projects.  An entrepreneur, she is host of her own radio talk show and the cover girl for Natural Glow Body Care Line.  Breeze intends to donate as much free time as possible to volunteering with KO4G, and other charities. For updates and more info you can follow Breeze on Twitter at : www.twitter.com/BreezeMarie
and visit:
www.BreezeMarie.com and www.Myspace.com/BreezeMarieonline



Carley
Recruitment Director, Los Angeles
Carley was raised in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. She and her sister grew up with an abundance of love and support from their hardworking parents who she calls her “heroes.” Her mother worked for an airline ticketing agency and her father was a history buff. Since her mother could fly the family for free, every Friday, she and her sister were told to pack their bags. The family would head to the airport and pick a destination in the continental US where her dad could give them a history lesson. As a child, she visited every historical site in the United States! Carley has an Associate’s degree in Business Communications and is in the process of starting her own business selling couture and unique high-end wedding favors. An actress and model, Carley’s break came in the form of landing a billboard ad that was on every transit bus in Pittsburgh. Her credits include several independent films, the soap opera, Passions, numerous commercials and print ads and most recently the film, Alter Ego.



Carolyn
Facebook Manager
Carolyn grew up in Huntington Beach, CA and was raised by her father and stepmother, since the age of 4. She was raised to work hard and commit to any activity she was involved in. Working her way through her junior and senior years of high school as well as all four years of college, Carolyn received a BA in Business Marketing from Cal State University Fullerton. She currently works as a Logistics Analyst for a leading supplier of networking equipment and network management for the Internet worldwide. Growing up body conscious and with self-esteem issues, Carolyn is committed to being happy and healthy. As a child, she did gymnastics, softball, Western rodeos, horseback riding and only recently took up boxing with fellow KO, Minerva. Through LA Boxing, Carolyn met Nina, who invited her to join the OC chapter of KO4G. She is excited to join a group that promotes positive body images, self confidence and a healthy lifestyle.




Chantel
Chantel was born and raised in a small town in the Imperial Valley, located in Southern California. The eldest of three children, she faced many challenges. If it weren’t for her mother, her hero, she wouldn’t have become the talented and wonderful woman that she is today. Chantel earned her A.A. degree in Computer Information Systems at Imperial Valley College in 2003. Two years later, she earned her B.S. from ITT Technical Institute (San Diego Campus), in Electronics and Communications Engineering Technology. Chantel developed her work ethic during summer programs in her high school years. Aside from her regular job, Chantel is passionate about modeling, acting, and giving back to others. She continues to involve herself in various charities such as Toys for Tots, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 2009 MS Walk, and many more. She has also participated as a background extra for Stu Segal Productions and has appeared on local Mor Furniture commercials. Her advice to young adults is to stay positive, surround yourself with positive individuals, and don’t be afraid to seek help.



Cherie
Cherie, whose parents are from Nicaragua, grew up in southern California the youngest of three siblings. She is professionally trained in ballet, fire and silk (arial) dance. She minored in dance and theatre at San Francisco State University and majored in psychology. After earning her BA, she traveled the world for three years before heading back to school. She is currently working towards her doctorate degree in psychology at California State University at Northridge. Along with her volunteer work for KO4G, Cherie does volunteer work with senior citizens at various senior citizen centers around Los Angeles.



Christy
Christy was born and raised in one of the most beautiful places on the planet, Hawaii.  This has given her a great appreciation for finding beauty wherever she can.  After receiving her BA in Theatre from the University of Hawaii, she began working as a costume designer and never stopped!  She moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career further, and has designed several shows for the History Channel, including: Last Stand of the 300, Journey to 10,000 B.C., Battles B.C., and Art of War.   An adrenaline junkie, Christie is a licensed skydiver, has bungee jumped, and loves the positive energy generated by working out.  She works with Sword Fights Inc., a company that does sword fighting and stunts for film, television and theatre, and absolutely loves the thrill of the fight.  Always looking for exciting new ways to stay fit, she discovered a love for boxing.  Christy has been blessed with a wonderful family and friends, and so many amazing opportunities.  She is thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful organization and to give back to the community!



Danielle
Danielle launched her design career in 2003 with Von Dutch.  She was hired by former head designer, Christian Audigier (currently the mastermind behind Ed Hardy). Danielle modified their world famous T’s into one of a kind, hand cut and woven, original creations.  Soon she was performing live (DOING WHAT?) for crowds all over the country.  This quickly gave her a high profile reputation and lead to her becoming a top requested designer to the stars.  Her designs have been worn by Ciara, The Pussycat Dolls, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Eve, Missy Elliot and Alicia Keys to name a few.  We are thrilled to have her as a swimsuit and clothing sponsor for our KO4G events.  Danielle designs tops, skirts, pants, jackets, dresses, leggings, swimwear, lingerie, wigs, hats, gloves, bags, furniture covering, sets and special events for all shapes, sizes, ages, sexes & special needs.  Danielle’s designs are exclusively available at Mint Collection at 7403 Melrose Ave. (cross street Martel, parking in the back) & custom made by appointment: DK75RAW.COM



Elizabeth
Director of Orange County Empowerment Classes
Elizabeth grew up in Chicago and moved to Scottsdale, Arizona for six years, before residing here in Southern California.  Growing up, Elizabeth was always involved in sports.  She practiced ballet for ten years, joined the dance team in high school, and graduated with a varsity letter in volleyball.  After eight years of raising her daughter on her own, she decided to return to school, become an RN and will be transferring to Cal State LA this fall to complete her education.  Elizabeth is currently working towards getting into the nursing program.  She began training in boxing and Muay Thai two years ago and has competed in two amateur level fights.  Elizabeth has a strong passion for helping others.  She is very involved in volunteering and has worked with kids in a homeless shelter.  A survivor of a domestic violent relationship, Elizabeth hopes to empower women through the Empowerment class.  She lives her life by the saying, “It is not the destination that is important, it is the journey.”



Erika
Director of Make a Little Girl Smile Program
Erika, an actress and a writer, was born in Mexico City. She holds a BS in Management, and Master’s degrees in Public Relations and Psychology. After attending university in the UK, she moved to New York to study at the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting. She has appeared in multiple stage productions in Mexico, England and in the US (Miami, New York and Los Angeles.) She has also appeared in more than ten films, and worked regularly in Spanish soap operas. Erika is a self-proclaimed Citizen of the World, who speaks a few languages, has visited more than 30 countries, and hopes to keep adding to the list every year. Her other passions are boxing, animal protection and using her skills to empower and inspire others. As the Director of the ‘Make a Little Girl Smile’ program, she is determined to expanding the program to include as many girls as possible.



Heather
Heather grew up in North Carolina, spending her summers sailing the outer banks at Camp Don Lee, where she worked as a camp counselor and sailing instructor.  While in high school, Heather was a cheerleader, competed on the track team, was the yearbook editor and graduated valedictorian.  After graduating from high school, she attended UNC at Chapel Hill on academic scholarship and competed on their varsity fencing team.  She fenced sabre and made an appearance in the Junior Olympics her sophomore year.  Heather studied pre-law and was a member of Phi Alpha Delta, a pre-law fraternity.  Upon graduating, Heather trained to do ocean rescue, made the local ocean rescue team.  She spent the summer on the beach rescuing ocean swimmers alongside the fire department.  Heather names her mother as her hero because she taught her to be feminine and compassionate, while being strong and independent. 



Houda
Born and raised in Tangier, Morocco, Houda completed her undergraduate studies at Al Akhawayn University in Ifran, Morocco.  After obtaining her Bachelors in Social Sciences and Women and Development, she came to the United States where she was awarded a Master’s in Speech and Communications at Edinboro University.  Soon after defending her thesis, she moved to Raleigh/Durham NC and worked for a Latino Community Center as a youth coordinator. Aside from philanthropic work, her passion is singing and she has been performing as a singer since she was 14 years old.  Following this passion, she completed a music production class, learning how to produce and arrange her own material.  Houda is currently performing her first album Reinvention with her band, Negative I.  Houda is the lead singer/lyricist and producer of individual projects such as Knockout, the theme song for the KnockOuts For Girls website.
“Knockout” Theme song
Lyrics, Lead Vocals, Production, Mixing: Houda El Idrissi
Background Vocals: Annie Triplet, Brandy Bruce, Houda El Idrissi
Arrangements: Brent Lee.  Announcer: Geoff Hodder
www.myspace.com/houdadouda  and  www.myspace.com/drissy



Irene
Irene Nunez was born and raised in southern California in a very proud, loving family. Aside from that, education has always been a top priority in her life. She has the initiative and the drive to do whatever she puts her mind to. She has worked as a mortgage consultant, holds a real estate license, a notary license, and should be receiving her bail bonds license shortly. Irene is enrolled at the University of West Los Angeles School of Law and is working toward her doctorate in jurisprudence. She hopes to be an attorney for just a few years, but her real dream is to be a judge. As the manager of one of her fathers’ law offices, Irene loves to dedicate her spare time helping others. She comes from a big family with many nephews and nieces looking up to her. The pressure has made her a very well rounded person who is constantly hoping for and seeing the best in everyone. An animal lover even as a child, Irene would bring home strays. To this day, the only pets Irene adopts are either from the shelter or off the street. Irene loves traveling, singing, dancing, taking pictures and just living life. A girly girl cheerleader who competed in pageants, she was rarely taken seriously. This only made her thirst for success and knowledge stronger. She appreciates this opportunity with KO4G to show young girls that “girly” can mean “strong, confident, smart and disciplined” all at the same time.



Jackie
Jackie grew up with a single mom who struggled to make ends meet, forcing Jackie to support herself since she was a teenager.  She is used to juggling a lot and she understands how important programs such as KO4G are for kids.  Jackie graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2003 with a Bachelor’s in Sociology.  Along with becoming a licensed real estate broker, she is also in the process of starting her own handbag line.  Currently, Jackie manages Air Conditioned, a hip wine bar and lounge in Santa Monica   Jackie has been boxing since 2007 and hopes to compete in our next event.  Along with her involvement in KO4G, Jackie also does volunteer work for the Women’s Shelter in downtown Los Angeles. 



Jaclyn
Jaclyn was born in sunny California.  After a short stay in Houston, Texas, her family finally found their home in Downey, California.  She now resides in Whittier with her one-year old son, Jake.  As a mother of a small child, she understands first hand, the responsibility and difficult decisions that come with being a parent.  She is grateful to have a strong support system though her family and friends.  Jaclyn has an Associates of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and is working on obtaining her Bachelor’s in Child Development.  She has worked in client relations for over five years and feels strongly about her ability to connect with many different types of people and personalities. 
Jaclyn says “In being a part of KO4G, I feel I will have the opportunity to give back the help and support I have been fortunate to have received in my life.”



Janell "JJ"
Website Manager
JJ is a Southern California girl at heart! She grew up in Orange County, and after receiving her Bachelors in Communication from USC, she found herself happy in Los Angeles. Starting her sales career in pharmaceutical sales, JJ now works in the liquor industry as the Brand Ambassador for Ultimat Vodka , a Patrón Spirits Company product. A regular on “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” Season 2, JJ had fun dabbling in reality TV, but thinks of it as having crossed something else off of her “bucket list.” Inspired by KnockOuts For Girls, JJ loves contributing to such a worthy cause and works hard to keep the KO4G.org website up to date.



Jen
Jen graduated from UCLA with her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree both in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Environmental Sciences. Inspired by her youngest brother who has severe autism, Jen has worked in the non-profit sector for the past two years and is very involved in her family’s non-profit, Organization of Special Needs Families (OSF), which is based in Northern California. Her experiences helping her family with their non-profit made her a valuable resource in KO4G’s beginning stages, making her very instrumental in the launching of KO4G. Jen is a natural athlete and with literally only two weeks of training, she boxed in a trailer for a television show, Knockouts, that fellow KO’s Pattianna and Parvati created and produced. She is also a seasoned snowboarder. Recently, Jen earned her certificate in Public Relations at UCLA and transitioned into the PR sector. She currently works at Brew PR, a technology PR firm in Santa Monica.



Jessica
Jessica grew up in northern California.  Both of her parents immigrated to the United States from China.  Very proud of her Chinese heritage, she works as a real estate agent for her father’s real estate company, Cheung Associates Realty.  She studies Psychology at Santa Monica College.  Jessica has always done volunteer work and received an award in high school for her community service.  Along with her involvement with KO4G, she volunteers at the Fisher House Foundation in Brentwood.  An animal lover, she has four dogs; three of them, she rescued.  Two years ago, Jessica faced her biggest challenge yet.  She broke her back and pelvis in a car accident and doctors told her she would never walk again.  Through perseverance and determination, she proved them wrong and made a full recovery.  Because of that experience, Jessica especially loves being involved with an organization that gives hope and encouragement to little girls.



Jill
Editor
Growing up in New Jersey, Jill always loved hitting things. In high school, she made First Team All-State in tennis. After playing varsity for Villanova University where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Theater and Communications, she moved straight to Manhattan where she wrote, acted, and also worked as a tennis instructor. Eventually, she started her video company, Shooting Ninjas Productions. Jill’s fascination with fighting and martial arts lead to her getting a black belt in Taekwondo. Craving more punching, she trained at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn and recently had her first boxing match in the New York Golden Gloves. As a writer and documentary filmmaker, Jill’s subjects are usually women who overcome some kind of adversity, whether its racism, poverty, mental or physical illness, or some kind of abuse. Jill’s work has been published in magazines, newspapers, books, (including Women Playwrights: The Best Plays of 1998) produced in theaters, on television, (including a Lifetime Movie of the Week), film, and won awards at festivals. She is most excited about her current documentary film, Fighting It, about female boxers and their courage to fight their battles in and out of the ring. She looks forward to actively making a difference.
www.jillmorley.com
www.shootingninjas.com 



Jillian
MySpace and Twitter Manager
Jillian grew up in Rancho Santa Margarita, the middle child of two brothers.  Her family is the most important thing in her life.  She looks to her parents for strength, guidance and support.  Jillian was athletic from an early age and enjoyed many sports, soccer being her favorite.  She began playing soccer at age five and continues to play today in the Orange County Women’s Soccer league.  Jillian works as a business development manager/IT technical recruiter for an Information Technology services firm.  A sexual assault survivor, Jillian wants to support and help other women.  She went through extensive training to receive her certification as a Sexual Assault Advocate and volunteers for a sexual assault victim services/prevention program.  As a member of a sexual assault victim services team, she helps to insure that victims of rape and other sexual assaults receive immediate assistance.  Jillian joined LA Boxing Lake Forest to build her strength, confidence and self-esteem.  She uses boxing as a means to build both inner and outer strength.  This is why she joined KnockOuts For Girls.  



Joanna
Mentorship Coordinator, Orange County
Joanna is ecstatic to become a part of the KO4G family! She started boxing four years ago in her hometown of San Diego. She was instantly hooked and has been training in boxing, kickboxing and MMA ever since. Joanna is a senior at Cal State Fullerton and is majoring in Communications. She has also worked in the insurance industry for over five years and has a fulfilling career as a health insurance agent. Joanna loves to help people and spent many years working with children back in San Diego. She’s delighted to run the Orange County Chapter’s Little KnockOuts Mentorship Program.



Judy
Judy has been a freelance writer for clients big and small all around the world since she graduated from college. Having composed prose personally as well as developing strategic content professionally, she's always used words to express her adventurous spirit and unique perspective on various bits of life. Judy's extremely active, both physically and in the community — when she's not rock climbing or surfing or boxing, she's volunteering with creative writing programs for children, helping to build a new start-up and encouraging positive body image for women, especially those who are in recovery from an eating disorder. Needless to say, there's no rest for the weary. (But, Judy wouldn't have it any other way!)



Kandyce
Senior Director of Mentorship Programs

Kandyce resides in Huntington Beach, California and works for the high school district as an instructional aide for students with special needs.  She received her AA degree in December 2008 and continues to further her education by attending California State University, Fullerton.  She has a major in Business with a concentration in Management and a minor in Spanish.  Kandyce enjoys working with children and has aspirations to care for foster children and open her own restaurant.




Keley
Keley was born and raised in San Diego, California. Her role models were her parents who showed her that through hard work and dedication, there were no limitations to achieve her dreams. Keley found the key to her self esteem through sports and grew up playing a variety of them. Soccer and softball were her favorites. Growing up, she dreamt of becoming an actress. In middle school and high school, she participated in drama classes. At 14, she was accepted into California State Summer School for the Arts, where she received training in Theater Arts. After High School, Keley attended Azusa Pacific University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, which she found to be her true passion. Out of college, she worked with seniors, disabled adults, homeless youth, and families. Wanting to further her career, Keley decided to go back to school to obtain her Masters degree in Social Work. She was accepted into the Advanced Standing Program and will graduate with her Master’s degree from San Diego State University in 2010. She wants to continue to work with the homeless when she finishes school.



Keanna
Growing up with a single mom, Keanna realizes how important a program like KO4G is for underprivileged girls. Keanna is an active volunteer for KO4G and recently went to the Ventura Boxing Club with other KO4G volunteers to sign autographs. While there, she was inspired by the young kids whose lives were fueled by boxing. She boxed in the first KO4G event and hopes to compete in future events. Keanna has trained for three years with David Paul. He has been the only positive influential male role model she’s ever had. What David has taught her through boxing has helped her in all aspects of her life. Always athletic, Keanna couldn’t imagine her life without boxing. As a junior high student, Keanna was one of a handful of girls on the boys wrestling team. As a 5th grader, she learned to speak and write Japanese. Keanna has worked many interesting and fulfilling jobs, including being a host for several underground music video shows and as a stewardess on a yacht on the port of Monaco during the Grand Prix in. Keanna has been crocheting since she was 12 years old and can make just about anything.



Kimberly
Kimberly was born and raised in Tennessee.  She is currently attending college to be a physical therapist.  She also works as an aerobics instructor and a fitness model.  If that weren’t enough to keep her busy, she has been an NPC Figure Competitor for four years and continues to compete in the sport.  Kimberly trains and diets year round so she stays in top shape and is always ready for an event or photo shoot.  As a former boxer, she is excited to be returning to what she considers to be her first love.  Living in Tennessee, Kimberly is willing to travel far and wide to pursue her passion of fighting and helping young girls find their own passion in whatever they do.
Contact:
www.myspace.com/fitnfab
kr_kimble@yahoo.com



Kindall
Kindall has lived in Connecticut, northern California, Florida and southern Cal. Moving around so much in her younger years enabled her to master the art of making new friends. This usually entailed getting involved with activities, which contributed to her involvement with KO4G. She also has worked with the Eagles, a group which takes underprivileged children and orphans on field trips and creates life expanding and encouraging events. Kindall graduated from USC with a BA in Communications and Social Science. While at USC, she earned an Honors Internship to work at Entertainment Tonight. Hired upon graduation, she worked there for three years as host, John Tesh’s Executive Assistant. A TV host and actress, Kindall has worked on shows for Fox Sports Net and FX. She was the on camera host of The Paul Mitchell Paradise Celebrity Sports Invitational, which raised money for a charity similar to the Make a Wish Foundation. She is also very involved in the Fashion Industry and has been the fit model for Joe’s Jeans for 5 years. Kindall is a Yoga Teacher for toddlers and feels that helping young minds to quickly develop a sense of self-love, courage, trust, calm and centeredness is vital to their growth and development. A certified Reiki Master and IET practitioner, she is dedicated to the well being of helping others find peace, health, balance, love and prosperity. Reiki is also fundamental in recovery of injury, trauma, addictions, disease, stress and anxiety. Kindall finds joy in helping others to rebalance, find health and happiness. She can be reached for Reiki Healing sessions at kindallk@earthlink.net.



Kristen
After graduating from the University of Vermont with a Sociology degree, Kristen spent time Jackson Hole, Wyoming where she met KO4G president Pattianna.  When Kristen moved to Los Angeles from her hometown of Darien, CT to teach Pilates, she was anxious to get involved with KO4G.  Throughout her life Kristen has been involved in one way or another with giving back to the community.  As a Pilates instructor, Kristen knows the importance of taking care of one’s body and finds boxing both fulfilling and empowering. Kristen has explored her passion for movement through many years of gymnastics, diving, and dance.  Her discovery of Pilates and her decision to become an instructor was a natural progression of these physical pursuits.  Kristen was certified with Power Pilates in 2003 in New York City and currently teaches on the west side of Los Angeles.  She is very involved with KO4G and is a mentor for one of their scholarship recipients.  You can read more about Kristen and Pilates at www.kristen4pilates.com.  She can also be contacted at: krismatthews@yahoo.com



Latti
Latti is a native of the beautiful Island of Jamaica.  She and her family moved to the United States in 1993.  The youngest of three children, she spent the rest of her childhood in Westchester, New York.   Shortly after arriving in the United States, Latti was diagnosed with severe arthritis and spent much of her early years on crutches.  She overcame adversity and learned to live with chronic pain, eventually weaning herself off the crutches.  Latti studied Mass Communications with a concentration in Advertising and Marketing at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York.  While there, she was part of various television and broadcasting productions, including an internship at New York’s only Classic Rock Station, Q104.3.  A freelance model, actress, fashion design marketer, photographer and volunteer, Latti says the best word to describe her is  “creator.”  Her leisure time is spent giving back to charitable organizations.  She is an active member of The One Campaign and also helps out in activities at her church.



Laurie
Laurie was born in Toronto, Canada and is one of our star KnockOuts.  Aside from designing our original website and designing and printing our posters, flyers and press kit, Laurie boxes for KO4G.  She graduated from California State University at Northridge with a degree in Humanities and a minor in Art History.   Her Italian parents, who immigrated to Canada in the 1960’s with barely a dime to their name, moved the family to California when she was 9 years old.  Her diligent father worked hard and created MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust, a successful business in the aftermarket auto industry.  Currently working for her father’s company, Laurie helps give car enthusiasts and gear heads in the world more power and performance to their vehicles.  Laurie has a brown belt in Taekwondo and has been training in kickboxing and boxing for over ten years at LA Boxing in Costa Mesa, CA. . 



Leslie
Director of Health and Fitness
Leslie Cordova, MA, CSCS, is a fitness, movement integration, and athletic performance coach, specializing in training female youth and young adults.  She owns and operates Xceptional Athlete in the South Bay of CA.  Leslie has worked with hundreds of youth, high school, collegiate, and professional athletes, as well as everyday people who are committed to their fitness goals.  She conducts personal and group training, biomechanical and postural analysis, motivational talks and programs, team-building events, camps and clinics.  She has trained Heisman Trophy winners, All-Americans, and National Championship teams at Notre Dame and the University of Southern California.   Presently, she is working on her PhD in Sports Psychology and is a professor of Health at Los Angeles Harbor College.  She is a Level 4 Z-Health Trainer.  You can sign up for her monthly informative and inspiring “Xceptional Athlete” newsletter at www.xplosivestrength.com.



Lilit
GIVE BACK Program Director, Los Angeles
Lilit was born in Armenia and raised in Los Angeles. From age 9 to 18, she attended fine art school and then attended design school and received a BA in Fashion Design & Marketing.  Having had jobs in retail management and visual merchandising, Lilit is currently back in school learning skills to assist her in future career goals.  She has completed two marathons and numerous smaller runs such as the Camp Pendleton Mud Runs.  A vegetarian, Lilit enjoys Tae Bo workouts, thanks to Billy Blanks and his former Sherman Oaks studio.  Her hobbies include traveling, hiking, biking, and camping; as well as enjoying the theatre, art and music festivals, cultural events and museums.  She is pleased to be a part of KO4G and inspired by being surrounded by women who share the desire to empower.  When growing up, Lilit has had people in her life who who have been amazing role models to her, encouraging her to try new things beyond her comfort zone.  She would now like to pass that knowledge on to others.



Lindsay
Recruitment Director, Orange County

Lindsay was born and raised in Alton, New Hampshire.  She participated in varsity basketball and volleyball in high school and graduated in 2003.  After moving to Orange County in November of 2007, Lindsay learned of KO4G and is thrilled to be a new addition.  Lindsay still recognizes her high school varsity basketball coach, Mark Anthony, as the leading influence in her life.  He instilled in her the importance of hard work and determination and also taught her that ‘sometimes you must fail before you can succeed.’  Struggling to find her own passion, Lindsay hopes to teach young girls that failure can be the fire that lights our paths and can often be the stepping stone to great success!  Currently, Lindsay works for an Insurance Agency in Irvine, CA and often spends her free time hiking or training at LA Boxing in Lake Forest.   In only a few months, boxing has had such a positive influence in her life, further ingraining in her confidence to succeed.  Lindsay plans on returning to school next fall for Business Administration.




Lisa
Lisa, an Orange County native, holds her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Vanguard University. She is currently a property manager for commercial high-rise buildings. As a child of divorced parents, Lisa is familiar with the ups and downs that so many of today’s youth face.
“Even though I’ve faced challenges in the past, my parents have always taught me that in order to attain what you want in life, you have to be willing to work for it. Success takes sacrifice.”
She has proved this by working since her senior year in high school, putting herself through college and becoming a professional today. Since joining LA Boxing in Costa Mesa five years ago, Lisa found the extracurricular hobby she’d been missing. She has gained confidence and a stronger focus in life. She hopes to use her driven attitude and passion to strive for excellence as an example to young women today.



Lora
Lora was born and raised in Seattle Washington and has degrees in both Psychology and Nursing. In 2007, Lora moved to California and began her career as an RN in a neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU). Volunteering has always been a large part of Lora’s life, from mentoring high school freshman to participating on a first aid service team for the Red Cross. In her spare time, she writes music, dabbles in photography and snowboards. An adrenaline junkie at heart, she has gone on such adventures as skydiving, white water rafting, and canyoning. Lora has been boxing since she moved to California and is happy to be a part of KO4G. As well as offering the occasional adrenaline dump she enjoys, boxing has brought confidence and structure to Lora’s life and she looks forward to turning others onto the sport



Lydia
Lydia grew up in foster care and knows firsthand the hardships of growing up underprivileged. She is happy that she can be involved with a program that reaches out to girls who have disadvantages. Lydia grew up in Oakland, CA, bouncing from one foster family to the next. Despite all this, she graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare. Upon graduation, she interned as an event coordinator at Lula Washington Dance Theater and currently is passionately pursuing a career as a model, actress and boxer. One of our star KnockOuts, Lydia was especially instrumental in the development of the KO4G mission statement. She juggles three jobs and still finds time to volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club in Venice. She spends her minimal free time doing what she can to make a difference. Most recently, she participated in our ‘Make a Little Girl Smile’ program by taking a little girl and her family to the LA Zoo.



Magda
Director of Press Relations
An actress, artist, and writer, Magda Marcella was born in Munich, Germany to Polish parents.  She moved to Austin, Texas when she was 3 where she spent most of her childhood, albeit frequently visiting her roots in Europe.  When she was 9, she and her family moved to Moscow, where she fell madly in love with acting and theater and inspired her to pursue her passion many years later.  Magda graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles in May 2009.  Her acting credits include both film and stage.  She is also starting an event planning business with a friend.  With a deep love and interest for different cultures, languages and countries, Magda feels her culturally mish-mashed background has kept her open to the world and shown her that people are far more alike than they are different.  She is deeply sympathetic to the challenges facing girls and women today, having struggled with some of the same issues as a teen.  She is grateful for the opportunity KO4G has given her to give back and make other girls’ and women’s journeys easier.




Mandi
Mandi is a true California girl. Born and raised in Southern California she is a graduate of California State University, Northridge, with a BA in Cinema and Television Arts. Mandi quickly worked her way up the ladder in the movie world beginning as a production assistant in 2006. Mandi now freelances as a 1st and 2nd assistant director for television and independent feature films. Some of her credits include Without a Trace, Not Another Not Another Movie, starring Chevy Chase and Burt Reynolds, and the Playboy horror flick, The Telling. Mandi also competes in the Miss America program. She is Miss High Desert 2009 and will compete in the 2009 Miss California pageant. Her platform is called “Be the Change”. She encourages her peers and youth to give back and volunteer in their communities. By being a part of one’s community, she believes people can truly empower themselves and make a major difference. With the help of KO4G, Mandi continues to “Be the Change” she wishes to see in the world



Meghan
Outreach Programming Director
Hailing originally from the windy city of Chicago, Meghan was very athletic and excelled at swimming and soccer. Captain of her high school swim team and asked to be captain of the soccer team, she turned it down to devote the rest of her senior year to theater. Meghan also studied many forms of dance. She graduated from Whitney Young just after her mother ended a 10-year struggle with cancer that took her life. Meghan attended Rutgers University in New Jersey and received a BA in Theater with a minor in English/Creative Writing. While in college, Meghan resided for two years in a French Cultural House, part of a Global Village where she spoke and wrote French and studied in depth current and historical French culture. During her sophomore year of college, she helped form the Rutgers Independent Film Forum, which now allows the BA students more hands on opportunities to explore the filmmaking process. She was a lead in a film that went to the New York International Independent Film Festival and won the Division for Best Student Full Length Feature. During her junior and senior years, she taught creative dramatics to underprivileged children in New Brunswick NJ. She also joined a troupe called The Shoestring Players, which utilized the body and voice in the adaptive storytelling of children’s fairy tales from around the world. The Players took their show to Scotland where they performed in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Meghan is very excited to be able to help KO4G and be a part of such a phenomenal group of women who recognize that talent and success are not granted through wealth but rather through hard work and perseverance.



Melanie
Melanie, a southern California native, works in intellectual property litigation. She is a first generation Filipino-American who grew up knowing the importance of family, friends and being independent. After attending UC Santa Cruz for a BA in Legal Studies, she worked in various law firms, took over the family business (a cake shop), and now enjoys a career in the legal field. She’s passionate about her work, recycling, cake decorating, and fashion. KO4G is important to her because she wants to help women and young girls strive to be strong, self-sufficient and have fun while doing it.



Melissa
Melissa is a writer, business owner, and fitness professional. She was raised in both the United States and Malaysia, which had a profound effect on the woman she is today. This experience allowed her the privilege of attending an international school with the Brunei royal family and many of the best teachers from around the globe. She studied Interior Architecture at California State University Long Beach and now owns businesses in the fitness and personal health industries. Melissa spends her the free time writing novels and participating in sports ranging from gymnastics to snowboarding. Between serving as a Jr. High youth leader for eight years, mentoring young girls, and working as a fitness director, Pilates instructor, and personal trainer at gyms ranging from Total Woman Gym and Day Spa to Equinox Fitness in Newport Beach, Melissa has a cultivated enthusiasm for helping other women which sparks her passion for being a KnockOut.



Michele
Michele was born and raised in New Jersey. The oldest of four children, she exceeded all expectations by being the first in her family to go to college, and then going the extra mile to get a Ph.D. She received a degree in Psychology from Boston College, and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. She then moved to Pasadena to pursue postdoctoral studies at Caltech, where she studied learning and memory. This summer Michele was on the reality show Big Brother 11 on CBS, where this “brain” surprised herself by excelling at physical competitions, lasting 66 days and placing 4th out of 13 contestants. She is currently pursuing her dream of hosting a science show and works as an actress and model. Michele has mentored young women exploring careers in science, and became a role model for women who were inspired by brains and beauty being celebrated on Big Brother. Michele is grateful to be a part of KO4G so she can continue to empower women and promote fitness for a healthy brain and body.



Natasha
Natasha was born in Boston and moved around a lot growing up, living in: Colorado, California, New York and Connecticut.  She exploded into the modeling world at a young age and quickly became a fixture on the cover and pages of major publications worldwide, including FHM, Maxim, Vanity Fair and Men’s Fitness.  She’s appeared in many movies, including Speed Dating, Hell Ride, Thunder Over Reno, The Run Down and Rush Hour 2.  She’s made cameos for The Jimmy Kimmel Show, Rules of Engagement and other television programs, as well was hosted Octane TV.  She’s also appeared in numerous commercials, music videos, and she’s even been animated in video games by Namco and Ubisoft!  Most notably, Natasha was the first Asian model to grace the set of The Price Is Right and their Primetime Million Dollar Specials.  Her fan base has led her to develop her own line of merchandise and she interacts with her fans through her highly successful fan website.  In her spare time, Natasha rides her motorcycle, customized by Arlen Ness, and helps KO4G fulfill its mission.  Her goal is to constantly expand as an entertainer and to use her fame to help others. 



Nessa
Nessa was born in Oakland, California and raised in Berkeley. She's been on her own since she was sixteen. As a child she was moved to Edinburgh, Scotland because her stepfather was getting his master's degree there. Nessa then spent many summers in France. After high school she went to college at the University of California, Los Angeles where she got her bachelor's degree in Italian and special fields. Having an extremely high IQ and a fluent tongue in three languages, she continued to educate herself at the Make-up Designory in Los Angeles where she specialized in character make-up. Nessa competed for a million dollars in the CBS reality show, Pirate Master and was a boxer for Perfect 10 Model Boxing.



Parvati
Parvati graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Journalism and minor in French and Italian.  She moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Entertainment Public Relations.  During this time, Parvati ventured into the world of boxing and discovered a passion and enthusiasm for the sport.  She began competing in matches in 2004 and added ‘boxer’ to her colorful resume.  Through boxing, Parvati met some amazing and strong women, including Pattianna Harootian.  Together, Parvati and Pattianna bonded to create a trailer for a reality television show Knockouts and garner awareness for women’s boxing.  Shallow recently signed with the William Morris talent agency and currently works as a television host and actress.  Winner of CBS’s Survivor: Micronesia-Fans vs. Favorites, she survived 38 days on the island beating out 17 other contestants and winning the $1 million prize.  Of this prize money, she generously donated $50,000 to KnockOuts For Girls.



Sarah
At 16, Sarah was discovered by a talent scout and moved to Chicago to model.   Before this, she played basketball in the Junior Olympics, with her team placing seventeenth in the country.  Missing her involvement in athletics, she went back to Lumen Christi High School where she was voted the captain of the varsity basketball team and where she still holds the record for blocked shots and assists.  Sarah went on to play volleyball at Lansing Community College before transferring to DuPaul University in Chicago where she graduated with a Literature degree.  Sarah currently works as an office manager for Full Production, an ad agency in Santa Monica.  Her first love is writing and she just finished her first script.  


Sarah
Dear KO4G Advice Columnist
Sarah is a proud Chicago native and has always had a passion for philanthropic endeavors.  In her participation with various charities and athletics, she has been recognized as a leader.  She attended the University of Illinois in Chicago, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology, with an emphasis in Sports Management and Education.  While attending college, Sarah worked as a personal trainer, coached Pee-Wee sports and field hockey.  As President of her sorority, she organized numerous fundraising events and contributed to several charitable organizations.  After graduating from college, Sarah began her career as a Real Estate professional by working for a professional athlete relocation company and boutique Real Estate Development firm in Chicago.  She was also a member of The Looking Glass Theater, which served the community by offering underprivileged children opportunities to participate in theater.  In 2004, Sarah’s passion for her real estate career drove her to relocate to Los Angeles where she currently is a Project Coordinator for a Commercial Real Estate Development firm.  Sarah hopes to reach out and make a difference in young girl’s lives by inspiring their personal development, igniting positive change, and embracing individuality.



September
September was born and raised in beautiful Southern California.  The oldest of three girls and raised by her incredibly hardworking parents, from whom she got her great work ethic.  She currently works as the manager of Burke Williams Day Spa in West Hollywood and bartends for a free comedy show in Santa Monica.  September is a trained theatrical actress and comedienne.  An animal lover, she recently adopted the love of her life, Ninja, from a local shelter.  Athletic, September has always been very interested in boxing and mixed martial arts as a form of fitness.  She is very excited to fine-tune her boxing skills alongside the other Knockouts.



Susan
Susan started her designing career as a freelance graphic artist for established designers and apparel companies such as Joey and T, Krush Clothing, Pure Venom and Pretty Punk.  She created original logos and developed graphic art customized to compliment their style.  Susan also hand paints signature exclusive art to customize apparel, shoes and accessories.  To Susan, clothing is her canvas.  Through individuality and personal touch, she breaks barriers, which production machines can’t duplicate.  Susan and Danielle make up True Kustom Designs, our swimsuit and clothing sponsor for KO4G events.



Tera
Tera was born in Los Angeles by way of Memphis, TN with a single teenage mother and understands the importance of setting examples for young adults and empowering them to be leaders. Tera enjoyed playing basketball and was captain of the junior varsity and senior varsity in high school. She currently is an active member of a women’s golf league and enjoys playing tennis. Inspired by her health conscious mother, she has a love for beauty, fitness and health. She has a fulfilling career as a licensed Esthetician and is the owner of TERAMAI Body Boutique/Spa in Marina del Rey, CA. A proud member of KO4G, Tera is dedicated to educating young girls and women about self-love and total body wellness. She is committed to making a difference in the world and community in any way she can.



Tess Marie
Graphic Artist
Tess Marie was born in New Mexico, and raised in Texas. She graduated from California State Northridge with a BA in Child Development. She aspires to be a pediatrician and planning on attending medical school in the near future. Tess Marie currently works at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles as a program assistant for The Literally Healing Program. She credits her parents for her success and determination in school and in life. She says, “My Daddy taught me never to settle, and my Momma taught me how to get back up when I fall!” Family is very important to Tess. She goes back to Texas to visit her parents and two brothers every opportunity she gets. Tess joined KO4G because she believes in giving back. “I have been fortunate enough to always have had people help me along the way. I want to show my appreciation by doing the same for others, if not more!”



Toni
Director of KnockOut in Need Program
Born and raised in southern California, actress/model Toni Fox has participated in numerous avenues of the industry. From doing modeling work for local fashion shows, television; such as Good Day LA, to working as an entertainment anchor for a local news channel in the OC, she also stars in the theater scene (most recently, Sex, Relationships and Sometimes Love.) No stranger to radio, she has co-hosted the popular radio show Three’s Company, a talk show that is, as they say, “Neither here, nor there?” Her unique look and talent have been featured in number of upcoming films, including Rules, Busted, Las Angeles and Crank 2. Toni also enjoys singing, dancing, spoken word and writing. Having written and self-published a children’s book series, she is currently working on her third screenplay and a poetry compilation.



Vered “Didi”
Born in NYC, but raised in Tennessee; this singer/songwriter is pursuing her music career in Los Angeles. The middle child of three girls, she is the daughter of a retired Israeli soldier.
“Since I was young my mother and father taught all three of us to have a clever awareness about what is going on in our world and how to be resourceful in practical matters. It’s not what you have; it’s who you are to yourself and others. It’s about your actions and your reactions. One person can make a difference. Gandhi did, so can I. That’s the world as I see it.”
She is sincere in her efforts to change lives for the better. KO4G caught her attention because of its long-term goals and quest to make a difference in the lives of girls and women. For more info and to check out her music, go to:
www.myspace.com/dvered



Yolanda
Yolanda was born in Philadelphia and is the middle child of ten children.  She studied psychology at Phoenix College in Arizona where she was on scholarship for tennis and cross country.  After graduating, Yolanda made a living as a Ford runway model.   She currently works as a Premier Client Manager/Assistant Vice President at a major bank and manages a portfolio of over 350 of the bank’s top clients.  She also owns and manages a construction company that specializes in real estate investment.  Yolanda is involved in many philanthropic endeavors, along with KO4G, and put on an event in September 2008 with USA Boxing to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  Yolanda has boxed in all of our KO4G events, winning all three of her matches, two of which were TKO’s.  She has trained with the best, including Freddie Roach, Floyd Mayweather Senior, Willie Birdlegs Jenson, Jeremy Williams and David Paul.   She won the 2009 California Golden Gloves in her weight class and plans to go professional.  Yolanda is also the mentor of  KO4G’s first Scholarship Recipient, Cece. 



Annamarie and Ginamarie
Annamarie and Ginamarie are vivacious, compassionate identical twins born and raised on Long Island, New York.  Both twins are actresses and writers.  Since their first print ad at 3 months old, Annamarie and Ginamarie have worked together on almost every film and television appearance.  A few tv/film projects they are featured in are set to premiere in 2010.  Ginamarie is a sportswriter, mainly on professional boxing. Annamarie is a writer on NFL fantasy football. In 1997, at ten years old, the duo received the Kenny Rogers Roasters Student Salute Award, which recognizes children who demonstrate a sensitivity and compassion towards others, respect both children and adults alike, and are "extraordinary role-models" for their peers. Ginamarie is an active participant in the Arthritis Foundation. Annamarie helps create awareness for the Prevention of Child Abuse. Both twins are undergraduates at Hofstra University. Annamarie is majoring in Speech Communications, Rhetorical Studies and Public Advocacy, and has plans to attend law school.  Ginamarie is a Psychology major with plans to attend medical school.   The twins say keeping positivity in life is essential.   Annamarie and Ginamarie are strong believers in following their hearts and standing up for what they believe in.



Cheryl
Cheryl Kate aka CK, grew up in the Philippines where she earned her Bachelor’s in Mass Communication.  She became the sole provider of the family at an early age, which motivated her to give 100% in everything that she does.  She knows how hard it is to be financially challenged while growing up, which is why she joined KO4G.  In 2005, CK came to the US to be with the love of her life and adopted a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Domestic Short Hair.  She is currently employed with the San Diego Police Department’s Family Justice Center where they provide service to domestic violence victims.  Aside from her full time job, she also models, has a passion for photography, fashion, interior decorating and writes a column for the "City of San Diego Filipino American Employees Associations" monthly newsletter.  CK is also an adrenaline junkie who engages in activities like sky diving and rock climbing.  Being an adventurous eater, she hikes, uses taebo, pilates and yoga to keep herself in shape.  Her dream is to travel the world, experience different adventures and retire early.
 



Cheyenne
Director of Arizona Chapter

A proud Arizona native, Cheyenne has a BA in Communications and a Masters in Management. Cheyenne is currently a Compliance Officer for a health care company. As a Boys and Girls Alumni, Cheyenne understands first hand the positive impact that someone can make in a child’s life. She has worked with many Arizona charities benefiting at risk youth. Inspired by fellow KO4G member Yolanda Ezell, Cheyenne decided to filter her passion for elevating the lives of underprivileged girls through the K04G program. As the Arizona Chapter Director, Cheyenne is looking forward to bringing the K04G experience to the young ladies living in the Valley of the Sun!



Joanne
Joanne grew up in the Bay Area and moved to Los Angeles in 2008. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University. Currently working as a model/actress, she aspires to help others trying to do the same. Joanne enjoys boogie boarding, volleyball, and tennis. She has also has been training in boxing. This is the first charitable organization that Joanne has worked for; although throughout her entire life, she has worked with kids, and those with developmental disabilities. Helping others is something she truly enjoys. Joanne believes in instilling self-confidence in young girls because it helps them grow up to be confident, happy women. She lives in Redondo Beach with two dogs, a Yorkie and a silky terrier.



Molly
Molly is a San Diego native and the youngest of two children. She grew up dancing and still has a passion for it. Molly would describe herself as happy-go-lucky, with a smile on her face. Her role models include her mother and sister, because they have always set great examples of being strong women and working hard to reach their goals. What drew Molly to become a KnockOut was the opportunity to pursue two things she had never done before: boxing and philanthropy. She is excited to have the opportunity to teach young girls confidence and discipline at an early age, because she believes those two traits are essential for whatever you aspire to do in life. By teaching life skills through boxing, she can ensure the girls will hold onto those lessons for life. Molly is looking forward to using her talent in aesthetics and makeup artistry to contribute as a Knockout.



Rachel
Rachel was born and raised in New Jersey. She moved to San Diego after graduating from Arizona State University with a degree in Theatre. Since then she has received her Master's in Theatre from San Diego State University. Currently working at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center of La Jolla as an assistant preschool teacher, and as an after-school youth counselor, Rachel leads dance and theatre camps for elementary and junior high school students. She also finds time to give back to Gamma Phi Beta sorority as an alumni advisor for the University of San Diego chapter. On weekends, Rachel can be found with her wonderful adopted dog, Spencer, in many of the dog parks or beaches soaking up the Southern California sunshine. She is so excited to begin a journey with KO4G, as she loves to give back to her community. Boxing has empowered her in so many ways, giving her much needed self-confidence, and she hopes to share the experience with other young women.



Tami
Tami is originally from the San Joaquin Valley, born in Fresno, CA.  In high school, Tami was on the 440 yd relay team as well as the 440 event.  Tami also joined Red Sun Shotokan martial arts and competed in a few fights.  After high school, she joined the US Navy where she served over 7 years as a Hospital Corpsman for the Marines.  Currently serving in the Navy Reserves, she is continuing to take care of the Marines.  Tami has to be fit, both physically and mentally to ensure her Marines are taken care of, as they were her first priority.  Both her parents and her brother, Andrew, are her heroes as they have been the epitome of following their dreams no matter what anyone else thinks or tells them.  Tami is currently a coach at her husband’s gym, Cross Fit Mission Gorge, where she coaches clients through workouts.  While Tami is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Human Services, she hopes to continue to help others in their time of need or change.  Tami’s greatest accomplishment are being a mother of a son and being able to be honest and show him how to have a healthy and fit lifestyle.