WATSONVILLE, Calif. — The Quakes Foundation and California Giant Berry Farms teamed up earlier this month at Landmark Elementary School to donate 15 complete sets of soccer equipment to schools in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) and Watsonville Parks & Community Services as part of the club’s Soccer in a Cart initiative.
Now in its second year, Soccer in a Cart is a free program run by the Quakes Foundation that delivers fully stocked soccer kits—balls, goals, cones, pinnies (mesh vests) and everything else needed to run a game or practice—directly to community leaders who are bringing the sport to underserved areas. These carts remove barriers to access, giving local coaches and organizers the tools to keep kids playing, learning and growing through soccer.
“We’re excited to partner with California Giant Berry Farms, Pajaro Valley Unified School District and Watsonville Parks & Community Services to deliver these soccer balls and carts,” said Robert Davis, San Jose Earthquakes VP of Community Relations. “Watsonville has such a love for soccer, and we’ve seen how much a ball and an opportunity to play can mean here, including through our initial Soccer in a Cart donation earlier this year to support Watsonville Passport to Fun participants this summer. It’s a natural fit and a community that will continue to be a focus of our work. These carts will help meet equipment needs in schools and the community, giving local leaders the tools to keep kids playing long after the World Cup.”
This program is about more than just equipment; it’s about supporting those who are already doing the work on the ground to help support their communities. These leaders dedicate their own time and resources to create spaces for the beautiful game in their neighborhoods. By equipping them with the essentials, the Quakes Foundation and California Giant Berry Farms aim to ensure that passion—not the challenges of gaining access to gear—determines who gets to play.
"At California Giant Berry Farms, we believe nourishing our communities means more than growing great berries. It means investing in the people and places we call home,” said Joe Barsi, President and CEO of California Giant Berry Farms. “Our roots run deep in the Pajaro Valley, and supporting local families, students, and communities is incredibly important to us. Through our partnership with the San Jose Earthquakes, we're proud to help provide local students with opportunities to play, learn, and connect through sports. We hope these Soccer in a Cart kits become more than equipment. We hope they promote movement, build confidence, spark new friendships, and remind young people throughout the Pajaro Valley that their community is invested in their future.”
Two of the 15 Soccer in a Cart sets were donated to Watsonville Parks and Community Services, bringing its total to three following the Quakes Foundation’s initial donation earlier this year to support Watsonville Passport to Fun participants this summer. The remaining 13 sets were received by four PVUSD schools: Radcliffe Elementary School, Hall District Elementary School, Ohlone Elementary School and Landmark Elementary School.
“We are incredibly grateful to the San Jose Earthquakes and California Giant Berry Farms for investing in our students and in the educational experience we strive to provide every day,” said Dr. Heather Contreras, Superintendent of Pajaro Valley Unified School District. “These 13 soccer carts may seem simple, but they will have a meaningful impact-helping our students build teamwork, discipline, confidence and leadership while creating more opportunities to learn and grow through sports. This partnership is a powerful example of what happens when our schools and community come together around one purpose: helping every student reach their potential.”
In addition, the donation falls under the Quakes Foundation’s One Ball Can Change a Life initiative. For over 50 years, the Earthquakes have witnessed firsthand the power of soccer to change lives through a variety of ways, like building individual character and creativity, fostering collective values like teamwork, offering safe spaces to play and dream, and even opening doors to new worlds. To turn this vision into action, the club has pledged to donate 15,000 soccer balls to the community this year in support of transformational Quakes Foundation programming, which includes school visits, the club’s growing Saturday Night Lights futsal program, youth tournaments, clinics, camps and other events throughout Northern California. Wednesday’s donation will bring the total number past 13,500 in the year to date.
About the Quakes Foundation
The Quakes Foundation, the San Jose Earthquakes’ 501(c)(3) nonprofit wing, has promoted unity through sport since its inception in 2008. The foundation strives to improve health and fitness outcomes for local youth and combat food insecurity in our community. Through the cultivation of the game of soccer, it creates and facilitates programs that produce a positive impact on children and families in these areas of focus throughout the Bay Area.
About California Giant Berry Farms
At California Giant Berry Farms, the difference is Giant. Our vision is to be the most sustainable berry company in the world, committed to nourishing our communities and protecting the planet. We provide a year-round supply of premium strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, setting the standard for quality and consistency. As a privately held family company with over four decades of experience, we are proud to be a Certified B Corp, holding ourselves publicly accountable to the highest social and environmental standards in everything we do.
