Soccer, picnic and life skills: Local business leaders to teach soccer drills to low-income children

(May 13, 2009 – St. Joseph, Mo.) You don’t need much space, or even a lot of experience, to have fun with a soccer ball and make some family memories.

But it doesn’t hurt to have someone give you a new ball and show you some easy drills (especially if that person is a former collegiate athlete with a surplus of soccer equipment and a heart for kids.)

On Monday, May 18, business leaders from American Family Insurance will volunteer their time to teach low-income children enrolled in Community Action Partnership’s Head Start program the basics of soccer in a family picnic atmosphere. Families will receive a soccer ball, donated by American Family Insurance, and learn some easy drills they can do at home.

“We know more kids are spending time inside with video games or TVs, and many may not have access to organized sports when their parents are at work during the summers,” says Chris Listau, sales vice president, American Family Insurance. “Soccer is excellent because you can learn a few exercises quickly, it’s great exercise and it’s fun – and you don’t need access to a large field to participate.”

After visiting the South 9th Head Start center earlier this spring, Listau started asking what he could do to help.

A lifelong athlete and coach – and a former University of Minnesota-Duluth basketball player – Listau is a strong advocate of exercise and a healthy lifestyle, especially for kids. He will instruct the parents and children at the Family Fun Night in soccer basics, along with help from other volunteers. The evening event on May 18 is a special Family Fun Night for the Head Start Centers at South 9th Street and Mitchell Woods in St. Joseph.

Physical development and family development are part of the Head Start program, a comprehensive early childhood learning program designed to give children in poverty (or who have disabilities) the same chance to succeed at school as children from non-low income families. From nutritious meals to physical screenings, home visits, accredited curriculum and family opportunities for socialization and goal-setting, Head Start utilizes every opportunity to move families out of poverty and into economic stability.

“Bringing community leaders to Head Start family events is another way to move them closer to breaking the cycle of poverty,” says Rachel McCoy, director of development and communications, Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph. “It’s encouraging to the families, and demonstrates that the community is on their side when it comes to getting out of poverty.” 

Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph operates 12 Head Start centers across Buchanan, Andrew, Clinton and DeKalb Counties, serving nearly 500 children. Last year, more than 95% of Head Start program graduates tested ready for school in terms of intellectual and social development skills.
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Head Start Family Fun Night with soccer drills and a picnic is Monday, May 18, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Bartlett Park in St. Joseph. The event is open only to families enrolled at the South 9th Head Start or the Mitchell Woods Head Start centers in St. Joseph. The rain location is the T-CAP building at 2001
Messanie. For questions, call Jodi Deering, Community Action Partnership, at (816) 233-8281, ext. 124.

Community Action Partnership has provided programs to move low-income families out of poverty since 1965, serving nearly 16,000 people in poverty in Northwest Missouri. Head Start is one of the core programs managed by the agency. Additional services provided by Community Action Partnership to low-income families include utilities assistance, affordable housing, financial literacy and home ownership classes, life skills and workforce training. For more information, visit www.endpov.com.