So. Cal. Ford Dealers Launch Copa Juvenil Soccer Tournament.

The Southern California Ford Dealers announced the creation of the Copa Juvenil soccer tournament, which will be held in various Southern California cities between September 27 and November 18, 2003 and is expected to benefit more than 4,000 youth.

“The Copa Juvenil is an excellent way to give back to the Hispanic community,” said Jon Shuken, Ford Dealer Advertising Association President, “because it financially supports an effort that the community itself has identified as important.”

The Copa Juvenil will benefit more than 240 currently unaffiliated youth teams, ages eight to 14, by providing the infrastructure of an organized tournament. Participating teams will compete for a championship trophy and individual participants will have the opportunity to win one of eight $500 scholarships.

“I am pleased to be working with the Ford Dealers to bring an organized structure to these popular community-based youth soccer teams”, said Rafael Oscal, President of HTA Group “It helps validate the children’s efforts and let them know that someone cares,” added Oscal.

More than 4,000 children are expected to participate in the seven-week 2003 Copa Juvenil tournament. The Southern California Ford Dealers aspire to develop this tournament into an annual event that will benefit thousands of families in the Hispanic community.

The tournament begins on Saturday, September 27 at Arson Ford Park in the city of Bell Gardens. Winning teams in every tournament location will advance to the final rounds, which will be held in the city of South El Monte on November 16 and 17. At the conclusion of the tournament, eight participants will receive scholarships at an awards dinner in Buena Park on November 21, 2003.