Santa Barbara is the elite year round soccer development organization in Santa Barbara and its surrounding areas. Consisting of more than 450 families and 32 Boys and Girls teams, Santa Barbara SC’s reach into the community is considerable. However, the reach of Santa Barbara SC and the support it brings to the community is greater still.

Santa Barbara SC and its families help raise $50-$60,000 and the fundraised money can have a profound impact on the local families and children they support.

Limited is a word that applies to many of the shared traits among the SB communities at risk youth. It often appropriately describes financial resources, options for activities at the end of the school day, and a lack of positive role models. For Luis Ortiz a key component to overcoming these challenges has come through his participation with Santa Barbara SC. He has been a member of the club for several years and is currently on the U15 White team. The clubs scholarship program along with contributions from other community members has funded the costs of his participation.

Luis has established many positive friendships with other teenagers in the club as well as adults that have worked with him to assist and mentor him on and off the field. His academic achievement at Bishop Diego HS and participation in the club has led him to become an ambassador and role model for other at risk teens in the community by participating in programs such as the cities Police Activities League. Like many of his peers in the club, the aspiration to develop maximum potential and play at a high competitive level during their prep school years is based on the goal to get a chance to play in college, ultimately getting an education they may not otherwise have.

Other initiatives that Santa Barbara SC is involved in are the following:

Chad Relief Foundation – Santa Barbara SC this past year donated all of its access soccer uniforms to the children in Chad Africa. The Chad relief foundation uses the children’s passion for the game of soccer to help offer them a better life and better opportunities like clothing, soccer fields and more

Hearts for the Holiday Campaign – Santa Barbara SC GU13 White team recently teamed up with Bank of America to make holiday cards for local hospitals, senior care facilities and the military.

Santa Barbara Foodbank – multiple Santa Barbara SC teams donated turkeys to the Santa Barbara Foodbank over Thanksgiving. The teams decided to that whatever goals they scored the weekend before thanksgiving would be translated into turkeys for the foodbank. The teams involved donated 32 Turkeys.

Santa Barbara SC not only develops its players soccer skills on the field but works to cultivate their character and life skills off the field.

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