Chivas USA Celebrate 'Empowerment Through Soccer' Night During Saturday's Match

May 30, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


CARSON, Calif. (Friday, May 30, 2014) - Chivas USA will celebrate their first-ever "Empowerment through Soccer" night this Saturday at the StubHub Center during the club's Week 13 interconference showdown against the Philadelphia Union. The club will honor local and international organizations that have used the sport of soccer as a catalyst to help individuals overcome different types of adversity in their lives.

As part of a range of activities to be held during the evening, the Red-and-White will host a special needs soccer clinic. Coaches from Chivas USA's top 10 nationally ranked academy will direct several skill stations and exercises. To join the clinic and be a part of the more than 45 participants already registered, call 1-877-CHIVAS-1. Signups must be made by Friday no later than 4 p.m. (PT).

Another highlight will be the performance of emerging singer and songwriter Eddie Gomez . Gomez, who has been affected by a speech impediment since childhood, will sing during halftime in stadium section 139. His music has been included in compilation albums alongside artists such as John Legend, Gnarles Barkley and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He most recently performed during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour at LA Live.

Among the organizations to be recognized in Saturday's match will be World Harvest, Schools for Salone, United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA), Leaps n Boundz and Unification of Disabled Latin Americans (UDLA).

World Harvest, a non-profit organization committed to serving the poor and the unfortunate worldwide, will be sponsoring a group of amputee soccer players from Sierra Leone who were affected during the country's civil war. The players will participate in an exhibition game outside ChivaTown before sharing their inspirational story. The group has traveled all over the world inspiring other victims to take charge of their lives and become victors rather than victims.

Chivas USA defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste has teamed up with former Goat and current Philadelphia Union member Michael Lahoud in an effort to raise funds for the Schools for Salone initiative. The non-profit organization is committed to helping Sierra Leone communities rebuild rural schools destroyed during the country's civil war. A limited number of tickets to Saturday's match remain available for purchase with a few random fans to be invited to an exclusive post-game autograph session with Jean-Baptiste.

Steve Everett, Western Regional Director with the USPSA, is an elite wheelchair athlete, coach and organizer who has represented the United States for over 20 years in tennis, winning the US Open Championship in 1988. After developing and coaching quad rugby programs in Southern California, Everett started playing power soccer in 2011 and is using his previous experience to help develop the sport in the country.

Leaps n Boundz is an adaptive sports and recreation program for children and young adults with special needs that enable them to experience the thrill of redefining their limits in a safe and supportive environment. Through its soccer program, the organization will be supporting Chivas USA by bringing a group of athletes to cheer on the home team.

Rubén Hernández, founder of UDLA, has been an advocate for the disabled since tragically losing his sight as a result of a gunshot wound at age 23. In 1974, he began to accomplish his dream by launching UDLA, which has provided free services for disabled people and their families for the past four decades. On Saturday, Hernández will lead several members of his organization by walking out with the starting XI in the pre-game procession prior to kickoff.

Come out and support "Empowerment through Soccer" Saturday night! Tickets are available for purchase at www.cdchivasusa.com/tickets or by calling 1-877-CHIVAS1.



Major League Soccer Stories from May 30, 2014


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