"Thank you! We had an absolutely incredible time. The [refugee] kids loved every minute of it. I had to calm some boys who wanted to jump the fence at the end of the game, saying, 'We don't want to wait until tomorrow -- we want to play NOW!'"
-- Lauren Markham, Soccer Without Borders
THE SSV KIDZONE
SSV Kidzone Photo Gallery | 2009 Kidzone Recipients
SSVCF brings a different group of 50 deserving 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.
Thanks to SSV's past work, we are familiar with the grateful responses of children who receive an unexpected opportunity to see a soccer game in person. In June 2007, SSV joined with Earthquakes Soccer and the elected officials of the City of San Jose to distribute 1,000 tickets to an exhibition between CD Guadalajara ("Chivas") and Busan I'Park South Korea. These tickets went out to over 20 local, youth-oriented non-profits, giving a host of children a chance that they would not be able to enjoy due to other economic needs.
"Thank you for the wonderful experience that our kids shared at the Earthquakes game. We all had a lot of fun and are thankful for the tickets."
-- Alban Diaz, El Toro Youth Center
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Photo: The Ruffneck Road Trip
 Photo: Joe Nuxoll
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The SSV Kidzone welcomes organizations in San Jose and beyond, from the Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA) in San Jose to the non-profit Soccer Without Borders, which holds a summer soccer camp for refugee kids (mostly from African countries) in Oakland. Multiply that experience by 17 games and 17 different groups of kids from 17 different communities across the Bay Area, over the course of the 2008 season. We expect that many of these kids will grow up and bring their own kids to Earthquakes games in the future. Regardless, they will experience a joyful outing embracing the Beautiful Game. (Click here to read testimonials from some recent Kidzone recipients.)
The Earthquakes have agreed to set aside a 50-seat section above a large banner emblazoned "SSV Kidzone." The club has generously offered SSVCF seats in the SSV Kidzone for $10 per seat per game or $170 per season ticket – a substantial discount over the lowest price ticket for the public ($18 per game or $306 per season ticket). To continue this program next season, we need your help!
2010 Season
