As summer turns to fall, everyone is heading back to school, including Special Olympics Northern California Schools Partnership Program which is partnered with more than 400 schools all over California.
One of our partner schools, Castro Valley High School, shared with us a story about one of their remarkable students G’ana Losson. G’ana is 16 years old and is a senior at Castro Valley High School and has been playing on their Girls Varsity Soccer Team since her freshman year. In addition to her school team, G’ana plays for the Pleasanton Rage Soccer Club ECNL and has played with Castro Valley Soccer Club. G’ana is definitely an amazing athlete and a team player.
Not only is G’ana an amazing athlete, she has a big heart. She worked over the summer as a referee for the Pleasanton Soccer Referee Association and has donated all the money she earned to Special Olympics Northern California. When asked why she picked us G’ana said, “I chose to donate my earnings because my cousin, who has Autism recently joined a soccer team where all of his teammates have similar needs as him. I found this inspiring and want everyone to enjoy something they care about. I decided to pick Special Olympics Northern California because a good amount of my friends at American High School would always talk about how they spent hours working with the kids in the Special Olympics program with their varsity soccer team when they hold the Special Olympics soccer event there. I always wished I had the opportunity to work with them, but never did. This is my way of working with the Special Olympics program.”
G’ana is a shining example of students giving back to their communities in a meaningful way. We are extremely grateful that G’ana is supporting the athletes of Special Olympics Northern California.