Chris Lytle's MMA Project Wins 50k Grant from Pepsi

Fighters Only Magazine in the United Kingdom has reported that Chris Lytle's community youth project has received a $50,000 grant from Pepsi.

Winners of the grant were voted for by the public at the "Refreshing Everything" site. The cola giant enables the voted on winners to utilize the grant for operation costs, equipment and facility expenses.

Lytle, an Indiana native, provides free mixed martial arts classes to inner city youth as well as Army veterans, free of charge.

Utilizing the power of social media and the internet, Lytle leveraged his notoriety and public presence to achieve the necessary votes to acquire the grant.

Speaking to Fighter Only Magazine, Lytle stated that the MMA classes offered at his facility "gives kids who have nothing and no direction a chance. This is the best way I know how to give people a chance to see (that) hard work pays (off) and to teach life lessons."

The facility itself utilized by Lytle needs some massive reconstruction.

“The gym is terrible with holes in the ceiling and terrible equipment. Indiana, like most cities, has little money to give right now," Chris commented.

The voting process itself was very tight and Lytle and his project needed every single vote to count. Coming in at No. 9 out of 10 possible grant opportunities, Lytle's project will be reviewed by Pepsi to ensure due diligence prior to the allocation of the grant.

Expecting a satisfactory review, Chris Lytle's community youth project for the people of Indiana will receive the grant soon and the upkeep to the facility will benefit the members of the community.

Todd Seyler

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