SAN JOSE, Calif. - Earthquakes defender Bobby Burling visited the Boys and Girls Club of Silicon Valley in San Jose, Calif. on Wednesday, in the fourth 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 a group of Boys and Girls Club coordinators gave a brief introduction and presented Burling to an enthusiastic ovation. The group of 125 children, varying from elementary to middle schoolers, welcomed the center back with chants and cheers.
WATCH: Highlights from Burling's visit
PHOTO GALLERY: Burling visits Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley
The Texas-born defender stressed the impact a healthy diet and active lifestyle had during his childhood. He detailed his journey from playing club soccer in Colorado, moving to California for college and then making the jump to MLS and stressed the importance of healthy lifestyle choices.
During the question-and-answer session, Burling chatted with the Boys and Girls Club kids and then invited ten from the group to join him for a juggling contest. One of the participants had come prepared, decked out in his Amway Earthquakes jersey. Burling made sure to outline the importance of outdoor-activities-over-video-games and related by using examples from his childhood.
To conclude the afternoon, Burling signed poster schedules and Earthquakes staff handed out 125 replica jersey t-shirts and 250 tickets, courtesy of Amway, to the students for San Jose’s fourth home game of the season on Saturday, April 23 at 1:00 p.m. PT at Buck Shaw Stadium against Chivas USA.
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.
