| For Immediate Release
|
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
1,200 STUDENTS SCORE CHANCE TO EARN CHIVAS USA SOCCER TICKETS IN KICKOFF OF GANG PREVENTION INCENTIVE PROGRAM
*800 students were surprised at school assemblies today; 400 others were hand-picked from 38 schools
ORANGE COUNTY – Chivas USA will sponsor more than 1,200 elementary and middle school students with an incentive to earn free tickets to a Chivas USA game in an ongoing effort to keep kids in school and out of gangs.
Chivas USA has teamed up with Orange County law enforcement in the Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP), which aims to prevent juveniles from being victims of or participants in gang crimes by identifying at-risk youth, increasing school attendance, and decreasing gang activity.
As an incentive for positive behavior and staying out of gangs, the students have the opportunity to earn tickets to one of two Chivas USA games in March or April 2012 at the Home Depot Center. To earn this reward, the students must meet a challenge of having no unexcused absences, no criminal activity or arrests, no violence or weapons on campus, and no gang-related clothing, writing, or behavior.
Assemblies and Game on April 21, 2012
Chivas USA and OC GRIP held two assemblies today at two Orange schools for 800 kids ages 9 to 13 in grades 4 through 8. The schools were Handy Elementary School and Yorba Middle School.
The students were first greeted by law enforcement officers and prosecutors, who explained the dangers of gang membership and the gang prevention challenge. This included Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, Orange Police Chief Robert Gustafson, Chief Probation Officer Steve Sentman, and Assistant Orange County Sheriff Mark Billings.
Chivas USA then surprised the unsuspecting students by entering the assembly and offering free tickets and the chance to meet Chivas USA players at the game as an incentive for meeting the challenge. Students cheered as soccer balls, t-shirts, and wrist bands were handed out by Chivas USA co-owner and president of the Red-and-White organization Antonio Cue, Chivas USA midfielders Ben Zamanski and Marvin Iraheta, Chivas USA Director of Soccer Operations Kevin Esparza, ChivaGirls, and Chivas USA mascot ChivaFighter.
Students who successfully complete the challenge will be invited to attend the Chivas USA game.