SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Arturo Alvarez visited the KIPP Heartwood Academy Wednesday, August 19 as part of the Amway Global Kicks for Kids Program. Alvarez was first introduced to the students by principal Lolita Jackson and was welcomed with overwhelming cheers and applause.
The Texas native stressed the impact a healthy diet and active lifestyle had on his life growing up playing multiple sports. Alvarez, a former student at a KIPP Academy in Houston, explained to the children how the choices he made as a child to eat healthy foods helped him achieve his goal of becoming a professional athlete. The crowd consisted of very committed soccer fans, and the children were very interested in learning Alvarez's eating habits in hopes to be more like him. He spoke about how small choices like choosing the right types of breakfast foods can go along way and emphasized drinking water over soda especially in the warm weather.
After Alvarez finished speaking, he opened the floor to a question and answer session. The children had a lot of soccer and Earthquakes knowledge and asked Alvarez many questions about the Earthquakes and the current season.
To conclude the afternoon, the midfielder signed player cards and Earthquakes staff handed out over 150 jersey replica shirts and 300 tickets, donated by Amway Global, to the students to attend the Earthquakes next home game on August 22 at 7:30 p.m. PT against the Kansas City Wizards at Buck Shaw Stadium.
The Earthquakes and Amway Global teamed up to create the Amway Global Kicks for Kids program in 2009. 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. The next school visit will take place prior to the Quakes game on Sept. 18 against the Colorado Rapids at Buck Shaw Stadium.
