San Francisco Hosts Soccer Match For Homeless
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) -- A nonprofit group that uses soccer to reach homeless and formerly homeless youth and adults held its first West Coast tournament in San Francisco over the weekend.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that about 80 players from the city and Seattle, Portland, Sacramento and Los Angeles were competing at Justin Herman Plaza in the event sponsored by Street Soccer USA.
Along with camaraderie and fitness, players who work with the group receive 12 weeks of job and life skills training.
Jaydee Perez Lockwood, who is 25, says kicking a soccer ball gave her a place to focus the anger she accumulated from a childhood spent in five different foster homes.
The tournament also drew teams made up of employees from The Gap and other local companies that pledged to raise money for the group.
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