AYSO VIP SOCCER FESTIVAL FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

10TH ANNUAL AYSO VIP SOCCER FESTIVAL

FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO BE

HELD NOV. 3 AT BALBOA PARK SPORTS

COMPLEX

400 young soccer players with special needs will come together at Encino’s Balboa Park Sports Complex on Sunday, November 3, 2013, for a day of festivities and camaraderie including competition, games, food, music and entertainment.

The occasion is the 10th Annual AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) Section 10 VIP Festival, a celebration of the special needs boys and girls participating in AYSO VIP programs throughout Central and Southern California. The AYSO VIP (Very Important Players) Program provides a quality soccer experience for children and adults whose physical or mental disabilities make it difficult to successfully participate on mainstream teams. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and games at 9:00 a.m. The Festival is scheduled to end at 2:30 p.m.

The festival is held in a different Southern California city each year, with Encino’s Balboa Park Sports Complex and AYSO Region 33 selected as hosts for this year’s event.

Young players and their families will be coming from throughout the greater Los Angeles area, and from other cities within AYSO Section 10, which includes Bakersfield, Victorville, Visalia, SanLuis Obispo, Palmdale, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Saugus, and Camarillo, among others. The Festival is entirely free for all participants. Over 150 volunteers, including "buddies" (volunteers which assist players on the field) will be donating their time at the Festival in support of the players.  Adding to the festivities will be carnival style games, giant inflatable attractions, music, food and drink, face painting, food trucks, and more.

"While the Festival focus is on the players and the volunteers, it also presents a valuable opportunity for the community at large to come and share in the joy that is so evident when our ‘special’ kids come together in a day of sport and celebration," stated Steve Poretzky, Section 10 VIP Festival Director, AYSO VIP Task Force National Chair, and local coach. "We’d love to see members of the community come out and join us. All are invited and welcome to attend."

Among the individuals, local companies, and other entities which have generously donated goods and services are Chin Chin, Jamba Juice, Galpin Motors, Inc., Better 4 You Breakfast, Poquito Mas, Kerrygold, Ultimate Exposures, Dr Norman Lavin, Tri Level Images, Soccer One, Sports Pins International, Trader Joe’s, The Stand, El Pollo Loco, Buca di Beppo, Chaminade High School Key Club, Costco, the LA Galaxy and Western Costume Co.

The Balboa Sports Complex soccer fields are located on the West side of Balboa Blvd. between Burbank Blvd. and Victory Blvd. in Encino.

AYSO is a 501c-3 not for profit institution which will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2014. Additional information about the AYSO VIP programs may be found at http://www.ayso.org/programs/vip.aspx

Contact: Michael Gerety, Festival Volunteer and VIP player parent,818-501-4480, michaelgerety6@gmail.com