For the 17th consecutive year, the Spanos family and the San Diego Chargers have continued their support for youth health and fitness by awarding more than $250,000 in Chargers Champions grants to San Diego County schools.
Southwest High and San Ysidro High were among 10 schools to receive health and fitness grants at a press conference held in the Southwest High weight room on Sept. 6.
Southwest High received $75,000 to be used for a new weight room that principal Lee Romero said is going change the lives of students.
“Our Southwest High School community is honored that our San Diego Chargers have selected our school to be a recipient of this generous grant,” Romero said. “The money that our school will be receiving will provide our students with a state-of-the-art exercise facility that any school can be proud of.”
San Ysidro High School received $47,000 to be used for a refurbished weight room by athletics and physical education courses.
“San Ysidro High thanks the San Diego Chargers for recognizing the needs of our youth,” San Ysidro High Principal Hector Espinoza explained. “This is an exciting time for our school and all the other recipients.”
Dean Spanos, Chargers Team President and CEO, and Chargers team captain and linebacker Manti Te’o were among the dignitaries who spoke at the press conference.
“I grew up in humble beginnings such as this weight room,” Te’o explained. “But people like the Spanos family and the Chargers helped me to get to where I am today. This is truly a gift. But it’s nothing until you make it yours.”
The 10 schools were honored on the field during Sunday’s Chargers season home opener against the Jaguars.
Chargers Champions is committed to improving physical fitness in San Diego County schools by providing grants for new facilities and equipment.
“Southwest High School is honored that the Chargers organization selected our school to support health and fitness programs within our school community,” Romero underscored. “The $75K will revitalize our outdated workout facility so that all groups of students can have equitable access to modern fitness equipment and more importantly ensure life long fitness opportunity with our students.”
