Frankie "El Gato" Figueroa Jr.

Frankie “El Gato” Figueroa Jr., a Bronx-born boxing champion, has stayed close to his Fresh Air Fund host family for twenty-four years. Deborah and Richard Morrissette of Troy, Vermont first invited Frankie into their home when he was just five years old through The Fresh Air Fund's Friendly Town program, and he has been visiting them every year since. 

“Frankie is like a son, he’s just like one more of my kids,” said Deborah. In addition to those summer visits through The Fresh Air Fund, Frankie also stayed with the Morrissettes for a year of high school, and most recently took his own son up to visit his 'second family' in Vermont. 

“I was an outgoing kid, and at the age of 6, I didn’t worry about leaving my mom behind or my family. I was out there to have fun,” said Frankie. While staying on the Morrissettes small farm, the child from the Bronx would go swimming, make maple syrup, and enjoy as many activities as he could during the summer. During his year with the host family, Frankie attended the local high school, took up a part-time job, and even became an altar boy at a nearby church. 

“It was a different realm. Things I couldn’t do in New York I could do in the country, and things I couldn’t do in Vermont I could do in New York.” Now working full-time on his boxing career, Frankie traces his work ethic back to his time with the Morrissettes, when he opened his own savings account and had to work for his spending money. Frankie became like a brother to the Morrissette’s oldest son Roger, who is the same age. This year, Frankie went back up to Vermont for Roger’s wedding and his host brother and father went down to Miami to see one of Frankie’s title fights. 

Frankie recently won the title of North American Boxing Federation Junior Welterweight Champion, in what was considered the most challenging fight of his young career. Frankie sees the values that he learned in his youth as having served him well in his eight years of boxing in New York, during which he won the New York State Junior Welterweight title and became the W.B.C. Intercontinental Mundo Hispano Champion. 

“I just feel really honored that he turned out so well; he really feels that we made a huge difference in his life,” said Deborah Morrissette. 

Knowing full well how much a relationship with a country family can help a child, Frankie suggested that any interested New York City parent give it a try. “It helps out the parent to become a better parent, it’s not like you’re giving up on your kids; you’re just giving your son or daughter an open space. The Fresh Air Fund is definitely a great experience that your kids remember forever.”