According to a report on CTV.ca, the Cabbagetown Youth Centre is the first place in Canada that will receive funds from the UFC Community Works® program. UFC Director of Canadian Operations, Tom Wright, was one of the UFC employees in attendance.

“In celebration of UFC 129 we’ve made an initial contribution to the UFC Community Works® program of $129,000 on a nation-wide program,” Wright said in his statement.

The classes at the Cabbagetown Youth Centre are designed to give back to kids who are living in at-risk neighbourhoods.

Spiros Papathanasakis, a representative of the youth centre, said it’s an opportunity for kids who attend to have structure in their lives and in return they receive the confidence to become better people. While the youth centre is currently experiencing some financial problems, the UFC will donate $10,000 to buy new equipment.

Along with contributing to Toronto’s communities, the UFC will look to contribute to the city’s economy. UFC 129, which takes place at the Rogers Centre on Saturday, April 30, 2011, sold out within minutes and it is expected to generate $30-$40 million in revenue. The event will have 55,000 fans in attendance; the largest in mixed martial arts history.

Other UFC-related events are to follow later this week in anticipation of this weekend’s event, including a press conference on Wednesday, a party on Younge-Dundas Square on Thursday and a UFC Fan Expo on Friday.

To learn more about the Cabbagetown Youth Centre, visit http://www.cabbagetownyouth.ca/