SSV Community Foundation presents tickets to 

Unity Council of Oakland

Posted By: Rich Fernandez - Bay Area Sports Drive Soccer

E-Mail:  rfernandez@bayareasportsdrive.com

Thursday, April 10, 2008                                                                  

Unity Council of Oakland Neighborhood Sports Initiative Program to be recipients of “SSV Kidzone” seats for the opening day game for the MLS San Jose Earthquakes on April 12th at the McAfee Coliseum.

The Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation is pleased to welcome 50 children and families from the Unity Council of Oakland Neighborhood Sports Initiative program as their guests in the SSV Kidzone seats for the inaugural game of the reborn San Jose Earthquakes MLS soccer club on April 12 at McAfee Coliseum against the Chicago Fire.

”Soccer Silicon Valley, through our community foundation and in partnership with the San Jose Earthquakes, has set up a program to bring 50 inner city kids to every Earthquake home game,” says foundation board member Freddy Adames. “Because the game will be in the East Bay, we selected Unity Council which serves that community, to receive tickets for free admission to the game. And since the opener will feature Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who is a great role model for Latino youth, we are pleased to invite youth from the predominately Latino community in Oakland.” 

“We are really excited to be working with the team’s fans through SSV Community Foundation on the Kidzone,” says Earthquakes Executive Vice President David Alioto. “Choosing the Unity Council is a great way to kick off this new program.” 

About Unity Council: The non-profit Unity Council is a community development corporation committed to enriching the quality of life of families primarily in the Fruitvale District of Oakland. Its primary focus has been to create a healthier and safer community for families and residents by implementing and managing integrated programs addressing economic, social, and physical development. The Unity Council coordinates a Neighborhood Sports Initiative recreation program at the Cesar Chavez Education Center in the Fruitvale area in Oakland. Approximately 700 youth participate in the NSI program that includes 20 youth soccer teams, of which the majority of the youth are residents of the neighborhood. www.unitycouncil.org 

About Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation: Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SSVCF) is an all-volunteer 501c(3) non- profit comprised of San Jose Earthquakes fans whose mission is to ensure on an ongoing, sustainable basis, the vitality, and availability to all, of the sport of soccer in the Bay Area. Through the SSV Kidzone, SSVCF will bring during the 2008 MLS season a different group of 50 under-privileged kids (and their adult chaperones) from a different youth-oriented non-profit in a different Bay Area community to see Earthquakes soccer – an experience they will remember forever – in the “SSV Kidzone,” courtesy of Earthquakes fans. The SSV Kidzone is a collaborative effort between the fans and the San Jose Earthquakes, who have made significantly discounted tickets available to SSVCF for purchase in the SSV Kidzone. For more information or to make a donation go to www.ssvcf.org 

About San Jose Earthquakes: The San Jose Earthquakes are a Major League Soccer expansion team and will begin playing in April of 2008. Season tickets for the 2008 Earthquakes season are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (408) 556-7700. Individual tickets are also on sale and can be purchased by calling 1-800-225-2277 or online at www.sjearthquakes.com. 

Contact: SSVCF – Lori Hibbett – (408) 858-2464 – Lhibbett@comcast.net 

San Jose Earthquakes – Jed Mettee – (408) 556-7723 – Jmettee@sjearthquakes.com 

San Jose Earthquakes – Flor Rivera – (408) 556-7705 – Frivera@sjearthquakes.com