There is nothing “mini” about the new mini-soccer pitch to the students of Santa Ana.
Santa Ana Unified School District officials, in conjunction with the L.A. Galaxy, recently unveiled Orange County’s first mini-soccer pitch at Andrew Jackson Elementary School to offer students in the community a safe place to play.
The mini-soccer pitch is not only the first in Orange County, but it’s believed to be a first for the state. This donation is part of the “20 for 20 Mini Pitch Initiative” to build mini-pitches in underserved communities, carried out by MLS Works, the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Southern New Hampshire University.
“Soccer is king here,”said SAUSD Superintendent Dr. Rick Miller. “Every place you go in this community, it’s about soccer. This is the right place for this to begin.”
Various organizations collaborated to make this donation possible, including a local partnership with the Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League (PAAL) and the Santa Ana Police Department.
“It’s a service I think, keeping the kids off the street, keeping them active,” said Officer Kenney Aguilar, director of the Santa Ana PAAL.
L.A. Galaxy player and Mexico national team member Giovani dos Santos also attended the event and took the field with the students after the ceremony to complete an exciting day for the entire community.