San Jose Earthquakes rookie Justin Morrow visited Luther Burbank Elementary School in San Jose on Wednesday afternoon as part of the Amway Kicks for Kids Program. The program, in its second year, helps teach local youth about the importance of a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.
The event was attended by 160 children in the after school program at Luther Burbank and they gave Morrow a loud cheer when he was introduced.
Morrow, a rookie from Notre Dame, stressed the impact a healthy diet and active lifestyle had on his life growing up. He told the children that a healthy diet helped him achieve his goal of becoming a professional soccer player. He also spoke to the children about the importance of staying active and getting enough rest at night.
After he finished speaking, Morrow opened the floor to a question and answer session. He took a microphone into the crowd so that every question could be heard by the whole audience. He also invited six students to come up and have a juggling competition before he had each attendee play “Head Catch” with him. In “Head Catch” the students were supposed to catch the ball when thrown to them, and when he yelled catch, they were supposed to head the ball.
To conclude the afternoon, the defender/midfielder signed autographs, posed for photos and the Earthquakes staff handed out over 160 jersey replica shirts and 250 tickets, donated by Amway, to the students for the Earthquakes next home game on Saturday, May 29 at 7 p.m. PT at Buck Shaw Stadium against Toronto FC.
The Earthquakes and Amway teamed up to create the Amway Kicks for Kids program in 2009. The program returns for its second season in 2010. Through the program, Earthquakes players will visit 15 schools or community centers in the Bay Area to discuss the importance of being active and living a healthy lifestyle.
