BRUIN FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO VISIT EMERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

On Wednesday afternoon, May 6, UCLA’s 24 scholarship freshmen football student-athletes who participate in the athletic department’s Community of Learners program will give back to the community.

The 24 football freshmen will be visiting Ralph Waldo Emerson Middle School (1650 Selby Avenue in West Los Angeles). They will conduct brief presentations (likely split into four groups) on the student-athlete experience, being a Bruin, the importance of staying in school, staying away from drugs, etc. The presentations will be followed by some type of a 'play time' or low-key athletic competition on the playground.

The Bruins are scheduled to arrive between 2:30 – 3:00 pm and will interact with the youngsters until at least 4:00 pm.

UCLA’s participation in this event is through the Team Prime Time (TPT) program. TPT is offered in partnership with the Beyond the Bell Branch of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD Beyond the Bell).

If media is interested in covering this event, they should contact Peter Straus, Executive Director of Team Prime Time, at 310/779-9799.

CHIVAS USA SCORES WITH LAUSD STUDENTS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH TEAM PRIME TIME AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

Nine players to visit four LAUSD campuses Wednesday afternoon to provide soccer instruction to over 1,000 middle school students

CARSON, Calif. (Tuesday, April 14, 2009) – On Wednesday, April 15, from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. PT, players and coaches from Chivas USA will simultaneously visit four Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) middle school campuses to kick off an exciting partnership that has set high goals for its participating student-athletes. All four schools that will be visited by Chivas USA are home to the Team Prime Time after school program, which is offered to the students in partnership with the Beyond the Bell branch of LAUSD.
 
Dubbed ‘Chivas in the Schools,’ this one-day celebration of soccer and education  will do far more than just introduce the 1,300 students who attend Webster Middle School, Palms Middle School, Emerson Middle School and Westside Leadership Magnet to soccer instruction from the Chivas USA players and coaches, according to Team Prime Time Executive Director Peter Straus:  
 
“Chivas USA has made an extraordinary statement by choosing to come directly to the schools and visit the kids,” said Straus. “They are showing our students that a professional sports franchise cares about them and wants to help them set, and reach, their goals. The students will accomplish great things with role models like this.”
 
“After school programs are important to students’ personal development, and Chivas USA is pleased to help local middle-school students reach their goals through Team Prime Time,” said Chivas USA President Shawn Hunter. “In addition, we are very proud to be part of the great work being done in our schools by LAUSD.”
 
“The Chivas USA visit also helps highlight all the positive activities and partnerships taking place in LAUSD Beyond the Bell after school programs,” said to Alvaro Cortes, Assistant Superintendent of LAUSD’s Beyond the Bell Branch. “Over 85,000 LAUSD students participate in after school programs everyday throughout the District under the supervision and guidance of successful and caring organizations such as Team Prime Time. This visit helps bring attention to that fact.”
 
Highlights of the partnership between Chivas USA and Team Prime Time, which is called the Chivas USA Academic Academy, include ongoing player and student interaction, math readiness programming and year-round, on-campus soccer participation. In addition, participants will have an opportunity to visit a Chivas USA home game during the current 2009 season.
 
WHAT:           Chivas USA and Team Prime Time launch partnership with special ‘Chivas in the Schools’ Day
                      Players and coaches from L.A.’s top pro soccer team simultaneously visit over 1,000 students at four LAUSD  middle campuses
WHEN:            Wednesday, April 15
                      3:15 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. PT
 
WHO:              Chivas USA players and coaches (see list below, by school)
Shawn Hunter, Chivas USA President
                      Peter Straus, Team Prime Time Executive Director
                       Alvaro Cortes, Beyond the Bell Branch Asst. Superintendent
                       Kathy Smith, Beyond the Bell Branch Administrative Coordinator
 
WHERE:         Partnership Kick-Off Event:
                         
Webster Middle School – Players: Jesse Marsch, Claudio Su¡rez, Mariano Trujillo
                      11330 Graham Place
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 235-4600
 
                      Other Locations:

                       Palms Middle School – Players: Justin Braun, Michael Lahoud; Coach: Carlos Llamosa
                      10860 Woodbine Street
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 253-7600
 
                       Emerson Middle School – Players: Atiba Harris, Gerson May©n; Coach: Kevin Esparza
                       1650 Selby Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 234-3100
 
                      Westside Leadership Magnet School – Players: Lance Parker, Shavar Thomas; Coach: Leo Percovich
                      104 Anchorage Street                                                            
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 821-2039
                       
MEDIA RSVP: Please contact Keegan Pierce, Chivas USA Communications: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (310) 595-5264