OCDA KICKS OFF OC GRIP SOCCER CAMPS TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY AND POSITIVE CHOICES FOR AT-RISK STUDENTS

Date: March 29, 2016

OCDA KICKS OFF OC GRIP SOCCER CAMPS TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY AND POSITIVE CHOICES FOR AT-RISK STUDENTS
* Approximately 370 elementary students will participate in the camps

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) kicked off two soccer camps yesterday for students as part of an ongoing gang prevention effort to build self-esteem and encourage healthy and positive choices. Designed to keep at-risk students positively engaged during spring break, the 3-day soccer camps across Orange County were organized through the Orange County Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP) to encourage youth to avoid the eminent dangers of gang life and get involved in healthy team-building extra-curricular programs. The first two soccer camps awards ceremonies will take place tomorrow, March 30, 2016, at the Titan Stadium in Cal State Fullerton at 1:00 p.m., and the other at Robert M. Pyles Elementary, 10411 Dale Street, in Stanton, at 12:00 pm.

Media interested in attending any portion of the soccer camps are encouraged to call the OCDA Spokesperson Roxi Fyad at (714) 347-8405, to make arrangements.

The Fullerton soccer camp is a joint effort between the OCDA, OC GRIP, and California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), CSUF Police Chief Dennis Demaio, Orange County Probation (OCP) Chief Steve Sentman, Buena Park Police Chief Corey Sianez, and Fullerton Police Chief Dan Hughes, and their respective departments, and The Way Fellowship Church in Buena Park. Awards will be presented by dignitaries from all involved agencies. The Stanton soccer camp is a joint effort between the OCDA, OC GRIP, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and OCP.

Over 100 students and student volunteers from Buena Park and Fullerton, two cities known to have rival criminal street gangs, are participating in the Fullerton camp, and over 70 students are participating in the Stanton camp. The camps will feature police officers and volunteers coaching and playing soccer with the students during the morning hours, and building character in the afternoons through presentations and guest speakers. Students will participate in a panel discussion with current college students and will also enjoy a tour of the CSUF campus. CSUF’s recent partnership is exemplary of the community partnering with law enforcement to keep students on the right track and out of criminal street gangs.

A Buena Park Junior High School 8^th grader, Azul Lopez, said of the soccer camps, “You may not be good at soccer but the officers motivate you to try, they care about us and want to make sure we’re okay. So even though life puts you down you’re going to be okay in the end. When the officers smile at you it feels like everything is going to be okay.”

OC GRIP is in 51 schools in nine cities throughout Orange County and partners with private businesses and corporations, faith-based and non-profit organizations, school districts, and community leaders to identify issues involving academics, attendance, and behavior in at-risk students, and to find solutions. Approximately 370 elementary students will participate in the six soccer camps.