May 2026 S4EA Newsletter
Published monthly for athletes, families, friends, volunteers, coaches & other supporters of SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes.
Editor: Walter Jackson.
Message from S4EA Executive Director Walter Jackson
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Join S4EA at Bingo Bash on Sat May 30 at S4EA office. S4EA is running our spring sports in basketball, bowling, cycling, pickleball, and swimming. S4EA has received Vendor Approval from San Diego Regional Center for SPORTS Camp May 15-17 at Buckhorn Camp in Idyllwild. "A Taste 4 SPORTS" gala fundraiser takes place Sat June 27 from 6-9pm at the Balboa Park Club. S4EA is honoring San Diego Chargers Placekicker Rolf Benirschke as our 2026 'SPORTS Man of the Year' at "A Taste 4 SPORTS". Check out the rest of the Newsletter or call S4EA at 858-565-7432 for more information.​
“A Taste 4 SPORTS” Sat June 27 at Balboa Park Club
S4EA is hosting for our members the 19th Annual "A Taste 4 SPORTS" Gala Fundraiser on Saturday, June 27th from 6-9pm at the Balboa Park Club (2150 Pan American Road West, SD 92101) featuring food & wine from 12-15 restaurants, personal chefs, caterers & wineries. S4EA is honoring former San Diego Chargers Placekicker Rolf Benirschke as our 2026 'SPORTS Man of the Year'. Mingle with notable local & celebrity figures, including Mad Mike from MTVs “Pimp My Ride”, enjoy music from the band ‘Kenny & the Jets’, and bid on an exquisite array of auction items. Reservations are $60 per person.
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Sponsorship opportunities available at following levels: Platinum-$10,000, Gold-$5,000, Silver-$1,000 & Bronze-$500. Please donate gift certificates, trips, autographed sports memorabilia to enhance the auction. For more info, call 858-565-7432 or visit www.s4ea.org.
S4EA Thanks “A Taste 4 SPORTS” Food & Drink Sponsors
AleSmith Brewing Co.
Bread & Cie
*CaliFino Tequila
Creative Ideas
*Guillermo's-Pepe's Street Tacos
*Haley’s Fabulous Desserts
*MC Sweet Treats
*Mimi's Kitchen
*Pick Up Stix
PRP Wine International
*Richard’s Bees
*Screaming Pete’s BBQ
Super Nova Cafe
Troy’s Authentic Greek Cuisine
Veterans Village of San Diego
We Be OB. . . & many more
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* Confirmed Restaurants for 2026
S4EA Thanks “A Taste 4 SPORTS” Event Sponsors
Platinum Level
*Brian & Kimberly Cox
Gold Level
*Nick Brumbach
*SD City Firefighters #145
Tipple Family
UDW AFSCME #3930
*Webb Family
Silver Level
Ahrens Family
*Flam Family
Gillaspy Family
HME
*Jerry/Mary Ellen Harris Family
*Richard Harris Family
*Jackson/Snowdall Family
Job Options Inc.
*Greg Mitchell/Bill Randoll
*Rathbun Family
Yates Family
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Bronze Level
Alvarez Family
Mary & Rick Cunningham Family
*Clara Downes
Glinatsis Family
Goldbaum Family
Jennifer Styer
Brian Miller
*Peters Family
Super Wash/Dry Laundromat-CV
*The Arc of San Diego
Triad Components Group
UNICO Engineering
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* Confirmed Sponsors for 2026
"A Taste 4 SPORTS"
Auction & Raffle Items
Getaways to a variety of exciting locations.
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Sports Memorabilia–baseball, golf, football, soccer, basketball, etc.
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Gift Certificates/Tickets to local restaurants, museums, theatres, hotels, spa treatments, fun & games, whale watching, and more.
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Artwork, Jewelry & many more items.
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To see a list of the Taste Auction Packages, visit: www.s4ea.org/taste4sports
S4EA Board of Directors Elections
S4EA will be having elections for our new Board of Directors. If you are interested in helping run our non-profit sports organization by becoming a board member, then call S4EA at 858-565-7432 by May 7.
S4EA Athlete Council Elects New Officers for 2026-2027
The S4EA Athlete Council had elections at S4EA Pancake Breakfast in April. Congratulations to the following officers:
President: Joe Alvarez-Salas
Vice President: Rachel Goldbaum
Treasurer: McKenzie Crossley-Cox
Secretary: Haley James
Sergeant At Arms: Isaac Hernandez
S4EA Bingo Bash Saturday May 30 at S4EA Office
SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes presents Bingo Bash on Saturday, May 30 at our S4EA Office (8380 Vickers St. #E, San Diego 92111) in Kearny Mesa from 3:30-5pm. We will play bingo outside. If you can, bring your own chair. For $10.00 per set of 5 Bingo Cards, play Bingo with families & friends. Bingo winners will receive prizes. Snacks will be provided. Call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to reserve your spot.
SPORTS Camp May 15-17 at Buckhorn Camp in Idyllwild
S4EA SPORTS Camp Session #1 on May 15-17 at Buckhorn Camp in Idyllwild (24641 Hwy 243, Idyllwild 92549) offers sports (bocce, Ga-Ga, human foosball, swimming, and an indoor gymnasium to play basketball, floor hockey, soccer, and volleyball) and traditional camp activities (crafts, hiking, dance, talent show) at a camp in the mountains in Idyllwild. Campers spend 2 nights in cabins under the guidance of camp counselors/chaperones. Persons with developmental disabilities, families, friends, volunteers, coaches, and supporters are all welcome to join S4EA at SPORTS Camp.
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The S4EA SPORTS Camp Registration Fee is $400 per person to help pay for lodging, meals, insurance, supplies, etc. Mail Fee & S4EA Camp Registration Form as soon as possible to S4EA (8380 Vickers St. #E, SD, CA 92111). $100 advance deposit guarantees a spot at camp. If camper needs 1-on-1 chaperone, a Supplemental Staffing Fee of $200 is charged. Transportation is available for $100 or campers may be brought directly to Buckhorn Camp in Idyllwild which is a little over a 2 hour drive from San Diego. S4EA has received Vendor Approval from Regional Center for SPORTS Camp. Please contact your Regional Center worker to apply & get approval for Registration Fee, Supplemental Staffing Fee &/or Transportation Fee. For more information, call S4EA at 858-565-7432.
S4EA SPORTS Camp -Chaperones Needed
Volunteers ages 18 & over are needed to chaperone for SPORTS Camp May 15-17 at Buckhorn Camp in Idyllwild. Family and friends are welcome to chaperone. No experience needed. ​Call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to chaperone.​​
S4EA Spring & Summer Season Sports - Need Volunteer Coaches
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S4EA needs volunteer coaches this spring & summer for the following:
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S4EA needs volunteer coaches this spring in basketball, bowling, cycling, pickleball, swimming & track at various practice site locations
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S4EA needs volunteer coaches this summer in bocce, soccer, softball & tennis at various practice site locations
If interested in volunteer coaching, to get a Volunteer Application, or for more information, please call S4EA at 858-565-7432.
SD Parks & Recreation - Therapeutic Rec. Services
San Diego Parks & Recreation (SDP&R) – Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) provides therapeutic recreation programs for children and adults with any type of disability. SDP&R-TRS is co-sponsoring S4EA activities at SD City Facilities so that S4EA athletes and volunteers also need to register with SDP&R-TRS. S4EA athletes need to either register on-line with SDRecConnect.com or register at the first practice with SDP&R-TRS. The facilities that S4EA uses in the spring are Park de la Cruz-Basketball/Pickleball Mon (Code: 129819) and Kearny Mesa Recreation Center-Junior Open Sports Thu (Code: 129820). The facilities that S4EA uses in the summer are Park de la Cruz-Soccer Mon (Code: 132126), Morley Field Bocce Courts-Bocce Tue (Code: 132127) & Park de la Cruz Softball Field-Softball Wed (Code: 132128 ).
S4EA Summer Sports Festival Aug 15 at Park de la Cruz
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S4EA is bringing back the popular Summer Sports Festival on Saturday, August 15th to be held at Park de la Cruz (3901 Landis St., San Diego 92105) from 10am-3pm. Play a variety of sports such as Basketball, Bocce, Flag Football, Floor Hockey, Futsal, Lacrosse, Pickleball, Quidditch, Soccer, Softball & Volleyball. The picnic will also include lunch, music, relay races, fun & games, party time & socializing with friends & family.
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The SPORTS Festival is sponsored by SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes and co-sponsored by San Diego Parks & Recreation – Therapeutic Recreation Services (code: 132151). Athletes with developmental disabilities, families, friends, coaches, volunteers, supporters, and others in the community are invited to play in our Sports Festival/Picnic. Join in the fun & games! Play as many sports as you want. There is no cost. To sign up or for more information, call SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes at 858-565-7432.
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S4EA Spring Season
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Sport Practices
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Mon 6:00-8:30pm Park de la Cruz (3901 Landis St., SD 92105) Apr 13-May 4 [Spring League] (Code: 129819)
Thu 4:00-5:30pm Kearny Mesa Rec Ctr (3170 Armstrong, SD 92111) Apr 16-May 7 [Spring Open Jr] (Code 129820)
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​​​​​Bowling
Sun May 10 & 24 10:45am-12:20pm Mira Mesa Lanes (8210 Mira Mesa Blvd, SD 92126) -$5 per bowler per hour+, generally every other Sunday. Dates are subject to change. Please contact cathysturdivant@yahoo.com to confirm.
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Saturdays 1:15-3:30pm May 2-Crown Point Shores (south end of parking lot) to South Mission, May 9-Lake Murray (Kiowa entrance parking lot near entrance) around lake x2, May 16-Mast Park (9125 Carlton Hills Blvd, Santee) River Trail, May 23-​No Ride Memorial Day Weekend, May 30-De Anza Cove (Parking lot north end near Hwy 5) Santa Fe Bike Trail [see calendar, S4EA website, coach or call S4EA at 858-565-7432 for more info]
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Mon 5:30-6:30pm Park de la Cruz (3901 Landis St., SD 92105) Mar 30-May 4 (Code: 129819)
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Fri 7:00-8:00pm Copley YMCA (4300 El Cajon Blvd, SD 92105) Apr 10-Dec 18 [swimmers only]
Sat 10:00-11:30am La Mesa Pool (5100 Memorial Dr, LM 91942) Jun 20-Aug 29 not Jul 4&18-$5/session(swim only)
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Workout-Hikes/Exercise
Limitless Adventures is a volunteer-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides outdoor recreational experiences for people with disabilities. Their current programming consists of hikes and other activities & operates within the Greater San Diego Area. For more info, go to: https://www.limitless-adventures.org/ -Upcoming events: Pickleball-May 16
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Summer Sports - click on Bocce, Cycling, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Tennis.
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Spring & Summer Sports - Call S4EA at 858-565-7432 to confirm or for more info.
S4EA Tournament & Event Dates
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May 15-17 Fri 4pm-Sun 1pm S4EA SPORTS Camp - Buckhorn Camp-Idyllwild
May 30 3:30-5pm S4EA Bingo Bash - S4EA Office
Jun 27 6-9pm S4EA "A Taste 4 SPORTS" - Balboa Park Club
Jul 18 9am-3pm Windansea Day at the Beach - La Jolla Shores Beach
Aug 8 8am-1pm S4EA Swim Meet - St. Madeleine Sophie's Center
Aug 15 10am-3pm S4EA/TRS Summer Sports Festival - Park de la Cruz
Aug 30 9am-4pm S4EA Soccer Tournament - Morley Field, Balboa Park
Sep 13 9am-5pm S4EA Softball & Tennis Tournament - Morley Field, Balboa Park
Oct 23-25 Fr 4:30pm-Su12pm S4EA Halloween SPORTS Camp - Camp Marston in Julian
