Next Tournament, May 2009

Mark your calendars! Another Howie Benefit tournament will occur May 30, 2009 9:00-5:00 at the North County Soccer Park. More information will be posted here as we get closer, but if you would like to reserve a spot, contact Dave Ridenour at Dridenour762@aol.com

Online Auction to Benefit Howie

John Neill has been selling one-of-a-kind sculptures forover 20 years. He has put one of his sculptures, a Western Mountain Man tilted “A Man to ride the River with…” up for auction to help raise funds for Howie’s medical needs. Bidding on the auction begins on January 15--you can get to the auction and preview the sculpture at http://www.johnneill.com/.

A copy of the beginning clay rendering is shown, more images are available at John's website. All proceeds will go directly to Howie's Fund.

Please pass the word on any of your firends, family, teams, parents, fellow coaches in San Diego or out.

Another way to Donate to Help Howie

Did you know that you could continue your support by making a small pledge every month? Can you imagine what could happen if enough people would give $10 or $20 a month? Howie's medicine would be covered as well as his quarterly treatment visits to San Francisco! You just go online to "Bill Pay" at your financial institution and designate your monthly donation to go to the “Friends of Howie Hawver” fund at The San Diego County Credit Union.

More ways to donate coming soon!

Howie Day Produces Over 1,000 Supporters, $15,000+ to Help Howie's Medical Expenses

From Matt Robertson:
Dear Soccer Family - I wanted to give you an update on today's events. We started the day with some great youth comp seeing GU11-GU14 action - Howie watched some great soccer played by all, movement, passing, and the girls had a blast. Thanks Howie, Toumi, Caroline, Dave, Q GU11, Un 12s, Un 13s.

From noon to one, we saw 4 girls 8vs8 teams play in a RR format - and again our youth showed how talented the soccer is in SD. To the 4 teams that participated, thank you - Efrain, Sarah, Caroline, and Gabe.

From 1-5 pm we saw some great Alumni games: Special thanks to - Steele Canyon (Charlie), West Hills (Dave), Valhalla (Shane), and OLP (Sally). The 5 pm game was some good soccer played by to SD Mens outdoor teams; Califia and Tin Drum - I was glad to see so many guys from back in the day -( Elio Bello was my MVP), it was like a big reunion. Thank you Gerhart and the league for coming out.

From 6-7 was the 70s, 80s, 90s, allstars!! It was a blast from the past - I played with guys I took my "D" license with, played indoor in the early 90s (w/ my Mullet), and of course players that played with Howie and I back in the day (Thanks Gus, Miles, Seth , Pennock Bros, Shawn H.Jason D. Herk A. Tony F. The Browns, Simon R, The guy that played CB on my team in Grey (you were solid), Yuki F., Kim W, Mr Howard Hawver Sr, Armin S, Gabe A, The guy that scored off of me with only 10 mins to go to ruin my shutout, and EVERYBODY else). I was able to brush off the cobwebs and have some fun - for those who participated thank you.

At 6:57 pm we had only 32 Howie Alumni and the teams seemed unbalanced; by 7:01pm there was 50+ Howie Alumni ready to go. The teams knocked the ball around showed the 300+ fans good soccer and it ended in a hard fought 0-0.

After the last game we totaled the youth games, alumni games, mens adult game, old timer game, Howie Alumni game, the concessions, the gate, and raffle/silent auction items, and at the end of the night we managed to raise over $15,000 for Howie. At the end of the night Howie made a very moving speech and thanked all that helped out - what a great of night of soccer.

I wanted to thank a few people for making the night a success: The Hyde Family, Wendy M, Howies 12s, Howies 14s, Shane Martinez, Keith Haugen, and Valhalla High school. Referees: Awesome support through out the day - thanks Dan Owens for scheduling the crew...can you help my HS??? (JK) or call 504-5451

Dave R: Thanks for help rounding up the guys for the old timers game. My only regret was not keeping a clean sheet (corner kick - header, nice goal)

PRIME SPORTS: Who donated 80 screened t-shirts for the Old timers and Howie Alumni...These guys even deliver! (Vince Maruca your Awesome)

Charlie Cleaves: Who got the donations rolling in, manned the silent auction/raffle table(for 11 hrs - and coached SC alumni), and was a huge part of tonight, thank you.

The 1000+ : players, coaches, refs, and little guys that attended today - Thank you

The San Diego soccer community wishes Howie Hawver a bright new year. We look forward to future games and more memories. Thank you to all those who made today a special event - Happy New Year Look forward to future events that will also support Howie.

Yours in soccer,

Matt

Valhalla "Howie Day" Soccer happens today!

The Howie Benefit tournament occurring today has had a tremendous turn out so far--it will be a memorable occasion. Please work your schedule to come, play, support and help out.

Here is the Soccer Schedule for the Monday 12/29 at Valhalla:
8:00 SD United GU12 vs SD United GU13
8:30 SD United GU12 vs CSC GU12
9:00 Team TBA vs CSC GU11
9:30 CSC GU12 vs CSC GU13 (toumi)
10:00 CSC GU14 vs CSC GU13 (toumi)
10:30 TBA
11:00 TBA
11:30 TBA
12:00 - 1:00pm RR format widthwise 3 x 15 min games = SD United U9, Efrain Alba's U8s, CSC U8s, CSC U9s
1:00 Steele Canyon Alumni
2:00 West Hills Alumni
3:00 Valhalla Alumni
4:00 OLP Alumni
5:00 SD Mens outdoor: Califia vs Tin Drum
6:00 Old Timers game
7:00 Howie Hawver Alumni Game

Please find a way to help, support, donate, or just come watch some great soccer for a great cause. There will be an exciting raffle throughout the day for items including: 2 Round Trip Tickets on Southwest Airlines to any U.S. Destination that Southwest flies to and a Pro Snowboard. Tickets are $5.00, three for $10.00, five for $20.00. Winners will be announced at the end of the Howie vs. Hawver Game.

Another Tribute, in the Dec. 28 Union Tribune

MORE ON HAWVER: Congratulations to the U-T and reporter Mark Zeigler for an excellent story about Howie Hawver's soccer contributions and his battle with ALS.

Another thing about Howie everyone should know . .

Several years ago, the only two children of an East County soccer family were killed in an automobile accident.

Friends of the parents soon thereafter established The Laura and J.J. Herron Foundation, whose purpose was to award scholarships to college-bound soccer players. The players were nominated by their coaches not only for their soccer skills, but for their grades and their contributions to the community.

In order to preserve impartiality, the foundation insisted on judges not connected in any manner to it. Howie, along with two colleagues, volunteered time each year reviewing applications, résumés and grade transcripts to see that scholarships were awarded to five recipients.

It was a very difficult task, as all the nominees were “winners,” but Howie's insight contributed to a unanimous decision regularly.

Scholarships totaling $156,000 were awarded. The foundation received many letters of thanks from the recipients, who declared, among other things, that they'd never have been admitted to college, or been able to make it through that perennial tough first year, without the scholarship.

After the parents' deaths, it was decided the remaining funds, $315,000, were to be donated to the East County Boys and Girls Club.

Good men do good things. Indeed, along with all the young winners, Howie can proudly remain in their company a fellow winner, second to none.

D.T. RADMILOVICH, San Diego

Giving Back to Howie

From Matt Robertson:
Dear soccer family - The response over the last few weeks has truly amazing. I have heard from friends of Howie from 30+ years ago, referees, coaches, grandparents, soccer clubs, soccer leagues, and countless Howie alumni. If I have failed to respond to an email YOU sent, I am sorry - it has been an overwhelming task (that I would gladly do again).

I have put key contacts in charge of the day so you, the San Diego soccer family can help. If you would like to get involved with Mon 12/29 as a ref, volunteer, alumni, 'old timer', etc. Please contact the following the offer you help:

Soccer Schedule/game sponsors: Youth teams U8-U14 (still need a few ages), general questions please contact: Matt Robertson 504-5451 (best) or mattrobertson10@hotmail.com

Snack bar donations/staff: Donate your products or offer to provide general items (water, gatorade, hot choc, etc): Jennifer Coburn at jencoburn@cox.net

Referees: We need 2-3 refs for games from 8am to 8pm please contact: Dan Owens at danowens79@yahoo.com

Volunteers: We need a 2 person crew to work the gate to collect ' Donations ' from 7:15 am to close. please contact: Rhonda Bowen Pike rhondabowenpike@aol.com

Silent auction/raffle items: If you have an item to offer for the raffle and or silent auction please contact: Charlie Cleaves at soccerdaddio@cox.net

Old Timers sign up: We are trying to fill 2 rosters of 20 players, so far about a third of the $25 spots are taken - contact: Dave Ridenour at Dridenour762@aol.com

7:00 pm Howie Hawver Alumni game. I have rec several players that are coming; we need roughly 10 more alumni to show their support - please arrive @ 6:30


For general donations:

The San Diego County Credit Union
make checks payable to: ' Friends of Howie Hawver '
Attention: Michelle Swope
312 W. Main Street
El Cajon, CA 92020

or contact Sue Hyde at Garthsgrfx@cox.net

Soccer Schedule for the Monday 12/29 at Valhalla:

8:00 SD United GU12 vs SD United GU13

8:30 SD United GU12 vs CSC GU12

9:00 Team TBA vs CSC GU11

9:30 CSC GU12 vs CSC GU13 (toumi)

10:00 CSC GU14 vs CSC GU13 (toumi)

10:30 TBA NEED TEAMS!! Call Matt 504-5451

11:00 TBA NEED TEAMS!! Call Matt 504-5451

11:30 TBA NEED TEAMS!! Call Matt 504-5451

12:00 - 1:00pm RR format widthwise 3 x 15 min games = SD United U9, Efrain Alba's U8s, CSC U8s, CSC U9s

1:00 Steele Canyon Alumni

2:00 West Hills Alumni

3:00 Valhalla Alumni

4:00 OLP Alumni

5:00 SD Mens outdoor: Califia vs Tin Drum

6:00 Old Timers game

7:00 Howie Hawver Alumni Game


Please find a way to help, support, donate, or just come watch some great soccer for a great cause. Thank you for the great response so far and I hope to see you Monday!!


yours in soccer,

Matt Robertson
mattrobertson10@hotmail.com
619 504-5451