SAN JOSE, Calif. - Earthquakes Club Ambassador Kelly Gray visited Arbuckle Kidango in San Jose, Calif. on Friday, in the seventh Amway Kicks for Kids event of 2011. In its third year of existence, Amway Kicks for Kids teaches local youth about the importance of a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.
The day began when the principal and teachers from the school gave a brief introduction and presented Gray to an enthusiastic ovation. The group of 125 children of the after school program welcomed him with chants and cheers. By special request, Gray ran through a decorated Earthquakes banner that two of the girls made, accompanied by all of the children.
The Palo Alto native stressed the impact a healthy diet and active lifestyle had on his journey to becoming a professional athlete. He told the kids that he reached his goals because he exercised every day, drank water instead of soda and other sugary drinks, and ate healthy foods. He emphasized that because of these decisions, he received the opportunity to play soccer professionally for the San Jose Earthquakes.
During the question-and-answer session, Gray chatted with the elementary school students and then invited several of the children to join him in a soccer-ball juggling game. He asked everyone for their favorite fruits and vegetables and stressed the importance of making the right choices when it comes to diet and lifestyle.
To conclude the afternoon, Gray signed player cards and Earthquakes staff handed out 125 replica jersey t-shirts and tickets, courtesy of Amway, to the students for San Jose’s ninth home game of the season on Saturday, July 2 at 7:30 p.m. PT at Stanford Stadium against the New York Red Bulls.
The Earthquakes and Amway teamed up to create Amway Kicks for Kids in 2009. The program is in its third season in 2011. Through Amway Kicks for Kids, Earthquakes players will visit 17 schools or community centers in the Bay Area to discuss the importance of being active and living a healthy lifestyle.
