The Peter Westbrook Foundation is quite possibly the most
successful and influential program of its kind in the country. Since its inception,
PWF has seen thousands of inner-city kids come through its doors to learn
the art and sport of fencing.
The Foundation was started in 1991 by the legendary Peter Westbrook, winner
of the Bronze Medal in Men's Sabre event at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los
Angeles. Peter used the sport of fencing as a way to escape the desperation
that was all around him as a child growing up in the projects of Newark, New
Jersey.
Today through his foundation, he is helping inner-city kids in the five boroughs
of New York to realize their own dreams through fencing.
During forty weekly sessions the Foundation’s students will be challenged
physically, mentally, and emotionally. Each session involves rigorous conditioning,
games of concentration, drills, one-on-one instruction with Olympic-caliber
coaches and competitive fencing with other athletes. These activities are
specially designed by the coaching staff to produce an optimal learning experience
in a short period of time.
By participating in the Foundation’s program, kids not only learn how
to be good winners and losers, but also how their actions directly influence
the results they achieve. Students learn to evaluate their attitudes about
themselves and others, overcome fears, think strategically and solve problems.
Since its inception, the organization has seen thousands of inner city kids come through its doors and has produced collegiate, national and Olympic level fencers who have also excelled academically at prestigious high schools and universities.