Sharks Foundation September 2022 Recap: Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month

Each September, the Sharks engage with the Bay Area's Hispanic community by supporting Latinx youth and working alongside non-profits dedicated to the same. On September 10 the Sharks hosted a youth street hockey day at the
Roosevelt Community Center outdoor rink
for more than 200 guests which included instruction in both English and Spanish, a special appearance by
S.J. Sharkie
and the Jr. Sharks, and featured food trucks and interactive booths with prizes. At the conclusion of the event, all 85 youth participants went home with free street hockey equipment!

From September 25-27, the Sharks Foundation hosted an auction featuring Los Tiburones items to benefit the
Jose Valdés Math Foundation
whose mission is to contribute to the development of the whole student by advancing their math skills and enabling them to flourish in a diverse community. The auction generated $2,000 which will support their summer program, providing math curriculum and instruction to local 5th-8th grade students.

On September 25 and 27, the 50/50 Raffle presented by
Cache Creek Casino Resort
benefited
Spark Bay Area
. Spark works to bridge the opportunity gap by bringing together diverse communities of schools, families, businesses, and volunteers to show middle school students what's possible in their future. They center their work around inclusivity and equity. Spark Campus Engagement, Spark Discovery, Spark Mentorships, and other campus and community events use diverse industry exposure, workplace experiences, mentoring, and the CASEL social-emotional learning framework to help students explore careers, build skills, and find the right path to a successful future. The two nights of 50/50 Raffle jackpots raised a total of $3,220 for the organization.
On September 27, members of the Sharks front office took part in a Lunch & Learn at Mezcal restaurant in downtown San Jose. During this event, owner Adolfo Gomez taught the team the history of Mezcal, provided education on the meaning behind the term Latinx, and of course shared how to make some of his favorite Oaxacan dishes!
In total, the Sharks Foundation dedicated $5,220 and impacted more than 1,100 lives this September.