Kicking off another great season is the Mission Soccer Academy, also known as Escondido Impact. Now in its second year, the league carries almost 100 students in 6th through 10th grades. Impact players are scoring both on the field and in the classroom. Students are required to maintain a minimum GPA to compete. In addition to concentrating on their studies, all players are required to participate in community service events.

Impact is also proud to announce two new community partnerships. The Escondido Police Department is sponsoring both the “Girls 13 and under” and the “Boys 15 and under” teams to play in the Escondido Soccer Club Spring League. California State University San Marcos has teamed up with Impact, recruiting college students to tutor the high school students, in order to keep up with the increasing demand of their curriculum.

Looking ahead, the Boys U17 team will be competing in the Cal South State Cup Tournament, and all teams will compete in the Oceanside Beach Tournament in May, 2009. For more information about the program, please contact Sports Director, David Luevanos, Jr. at dluevanos@sdyouth.org, or at escondidoimpact@yahoo.com.

Clairemont Club kids are excited… delighted by the new backpacks they received filled with school and art supplies. American Home Shield® generously donated $1000 and 105 backpacks to the Metro branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego. Click on the "play" button below to see the video.

Club members are stirring things up at the William J. Oakes Branch, participating in a cooking class called, “Simply Delicioso.” The kids learn how to prepare simple, delicious recipes, while the class focuses on teaching the kids healthy eating habits.

Children at the National City Branch can spend their “Club Bucks” at the “Club Store” and pick from an array of goodies donated by the Disney Store® at Westfield Plaza Bonita. Kids earn “Club Bucks” by participating in programs such as “Power Hour,” which provides homework assistance, “Healthy Habits,” cooking classes, and “Torch Club,” which develops character and leadership skills. The store is open once a week and members can purchase a small item or save up for a larger luxury item, such as a robotic Wall-E© toy or an exclusive Snow White dress. A BIG thank you to the Disney Store® at Westfield Plaza Bonita who, as of January 2009,has donated items with a total retail value of approximately $4000.