Rep. Jimmy Panetta visits youth soccer players in Watsonville
WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION) A Watsonville-based nonprofit that keeps kids off the streets through soccer is looking to expand its reach and membership by finding a permanent home for players to play.
"I played since I was a kid. It helped me get distracted.. like whenever I had personal problems, all of that, I can just take it all out on the ball," said Edwin Lopez, a member of Aztecas.
The Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy, which uses a mentorship model through the sport, mainly caters to kids and teens who have gotten in trouble, either academically or with the law.
The goal is to bring them back to success through tutoring and workforce training. The nonprofit is looking to expand, first by landing a club house to call home.
"Currently we don't have anywhere where we can do our tutoring or meet for counseling or any kind of meetings, so we're in a small office," said Gina Castaneda, the founder and director of Aztecas.
Congressman Jimmy Panetta's office caught wind of the program and the financial needs. He is encouraging the Aztecas to apply for one to two million dollars in federal grants.
"They don't have the infrastructure that should be there, especially for a group like this. So hopefully in Washington DC through our funding sources, we can find something," said Rep. Jimmy Panetta.
More funding could help out more youth like Watsonville Police Officer Adrian Alvarez, who grew up playing soccer with the Aztecas. It is his story as a mentor in the program now that is inspiring many more.
"A lot of kids have successfully completed the program, they attended college and they graduated. I did as well. It led me on the right path," said Alvarez.
PREVIOUS ARTICLE: Rep. Jimmy Panetta visited youth soccer players in Watsonville on Thursday to show support for more federal funding for local sports.
The nonprofit group Aztecas helps youth play soccer and stay off the streets and out of trouble.
Here is more about the team: https://www.facebook.com/watsonvillepolicedepartment/videos/507193850031697
KION’s Josh Kristianto will have more at 10 and 11.
