The San Francisco 49ers announced their October 2009 community relations events and theme: Respect for Community. During October, the 49ers will focus on teaching youth how to show respect for their community through various events across the Bay Area.
"A strong community is a cornerstone of achievement," said Joanne Pasternack, community relations director of the San Francisco 49ers. "Our community provides us with the resources and support we need to be successful. When respect for community is lacking in a young person's life or they have not yet learned the importance of caring for the environment in which they live, they may not have the infrastructure they need to reach their full potential."
Throughout October, the 49ers will participate in several community-related, hands-on volunteer projects in the Bay Area. The featured event of the month will take place on Tuesday, October 6, 2009, when the team will participate in Hometown Huddle at the Pacific Autism Center for Education (PACE). In cooperation with the United Way, 49ers players will install a permanent PLAY 60 obstacle course that will enrich and enhance the learning environment for the students at PACE – all of whom are autistic.
The 49ers have worked in cooperation with PACE staff, and a specially trained architect, to ensure that each component of the PLAY 60 obstacle course is designed to enhance the motor skills and sensory perception of the youth. The obstacle course will include 10 distinct stations with a variety of activities including a balance beam and pull up station. Additionally, the 49ers will be working to clean and upgrade the space where the obstacle course will be installed, including removing weeds, installing tan bark, and planting shrubs and flowers.
Other events in the month of October will include:
· On October 13, 2009, the 49ers will participate in *The Role Model Program: Charting a Path Towards Future Success. *At this event, players will work with kids to complete a "Dare to Dream" activity, helping youth create ambitious career dreams through opportunity exposure and adult role modeling.
· The 49ers will be part of Habitat for Humanity: South Bay Sports Teams Building Together, where front office staff from each of the South Bay professional sports teams will work together on a Habitat build. Teams participating in the October 20, 2009, event include: the 49ers, San Jose Giants, Earthquakes, FC Gold Pride and Sharks.
· Also, on October 20, players' and coaches' wives will participate in Outfitting for Success: Women in Transition. At this event, the wives will work together to sort donated items and outfit women who have survived domestic violence.
· On October 27, 2009, the 49ers will support the work of the *Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) Program *by bringing PLAY 60 messaging to the at-risk youth who attend the New Valley Continuation High School. Throughout the event, the players will be working with the students to demonstrate how they can channel their frustrations into sports, rather than through violence, while engaging in football drills with the kids and then designing posters to convey the messaging.
Each time the 49ers do community service work with children, they educate the youth about the franchise's award-winning RESPECT campaign. The RESPECT campaign teaches youth the necessity of showing respect for their schools, families and communities.
