2024 SCORES Corporate Cup - High Spirited Competition at Beach Chalet
SCORES Corporate Cup teams gathered to hear the poem from SCORES poet-athlete Crissler Thomas Velasquez
Eighteen co-ed corporate teams representing the best in Bay Area tech, finance, healthcare, and media battled it out in high-spirited competition at America SCORES Bay Area’s annual Corporate Cup Charity Soccer Tournament at the Beach Chalet Athletic Fields in San Francisco, demonstrating that exuberant athleticism and philanthropy make for a perfect match.
The June event raised more than $180,000 to support SCORES’ soccer, literacy, and community service programs in 113 Bay area schools and locations. The unfailingly energetic teams played 30-minute (4 games guaranteed; up to 6 in playoffs) 8v8 matches and enjoyed abundant snacks, a catered lunch, massages, chiropractic adjustments, and athletic kit giveaways. Bringing poetic eloquence to the event was a poetry performance by SCORES poet-athlete Crissler Thomas Velasquez, from E.R. Taylor Elementary School. Crissler recently dazzled London Breed by performing her poem at the Civic Center in San Francisco.
“6:30 in the morning. It’s game day
I rush out of bed, can’t wait to play
The sun is shining, ready to sweat!
I love this feeling
I love the beautiful game”
Adding muscle and star power to the Sixth Street team, was two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup bronze medalist, and Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Bay FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Aly Wagner. Sixth Street is the soccer franchise’s lead investor. Wagner brought her whole family. Her husband, Adam Eyre, who played professional soccer with the Miami Fusion and MLS's New England Revolution, joined her on the field, while her four kids and mother cheered from the sidelines.
“It’s a great initiative that helps a lot of kids,” said Verkata’s Emmanuel Asante of SCORES’ work serving underresourced kids and schools. “Soccer is a great sport and it offers so many opportunities. You can make it to the MLS, you can get a scholarship that gives you different chances in life, and it keeps your body strong.”
Robert Harrison of Bloomberg Philanthropies, a multi-repeat Cup player, says the event gives Bloomberg employees a chance to give back to the community and to connect with others in their industry. “It’s a great networking event. I've already bumped into 10 people from different types of technology and investment firms I know through work. It’s pretty cool to see them out here kicking the ball around for a good cause.”
Lauren Rood of Sixth Street focused on the fun, especially for former competitive athletes. “We’re out here for the third year. We love America SCORES. We love the organization; we love the people; and we love the kids. And at this event, we get to play soccer, a sport we’ve loved most of our lives. Plus, it’s a great way to bring everyone together on the weekend.”
Arin Tykodi, a first-year at TPG, was on both the Corporate Cup Planning Committee and the player to secure the funds to compete from the TPG philanthropy team. ‘It was a leadership opportunity,” he explained, saying he jumped in to get more involved with the company. Tykodi reached out to a fellow employee who’d played in previous Cups to learn the ropes and secure a roster of people ready to come out to play. Timing mattered as well. “TPG has a big philanthropy budget, but they go through an allocation process. We approached them early with all the information and logistics.”
Special thanks go out to fourth-time presenting sponsor Bloomberg Philanthropies, who fielded two teams alongside featured partners and teams from Sixth Street, Silver Lake, Dodge&Cox, TPG, Airbnb, Kaiser Permanente, Morgan Stanley, Snowflake, Swinerton, Verkada, Webcor, Cepheid, S&P Global, Salesforce, Serent Capital, and Service Now, among others.
The June 1 event received additional support from the San Jose Earthquakes, San Francisco Recreation and Parks, Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, the Palmer College of Chiropractic Sports Council, Recess, and Green Mary Zero Waste Events. The SCORES Cup Tournament Committee included Angela Bailey, Andrea Bonilla, Arin Tykodi, Sam Fort (Chair), Neelesh Kenia, and Alicia Yanow. Winston Chen served as the official Corporate Cup photographer.
“”A HUGE THANK YOU on behalf of Team Morgan Stanley! We’re still talking about the tournament around the office! From the welcoming check-in, the poet-athlete performance (tears were shed by some), the soccer games, and the winner’s ceremony, our team felt like we were part of something special. We look forward to a comeback next year to win it all!”
Ball and Goal - I started small - against a wall - A ball and goal - That fuels my soul - I ran so free I could be me - A sport for all - For short and tall - Where black and white - Play and unite - Lessons to learn - Each dribble turn - To work as team - Pursue a dream - To make new friends - Kick ball that bends - To train for fun - In rain or sun - To make a save - And ride the wave - To deal with loss - And time a cross - To meet my wife - Best move in life - To reach new heights - Stand up for rights - To see the world - Shine like a pearl - To watch my boys - Bring me such joys - To root them on - Through right and wrong - To bounce right back - From heart attack - To never quit - Compete with grit - To breathe it in - Lose, tie, or win - To honor those - In glory rose - To play this game - Hallowed be thy name - To soccer, cheers - Here's to more years
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Ball and Goal - I started small - against a wall - A ball and goal - That fuels my soul - I ran so free I could be me - A sport for all - For short and tall - Where black and white - Play and unite - Lessons to learn - Each dribble turn - To work as team - Pursue a dream - To make new friends - Kick ball that bends - To train for fun - In rain or sun - To make a save - And ride the wave - To deal with loss - And time a cross - To meet my wife - Best move in life - To reach new heights - Stand up for rights - To see the world - Shine like a pearl - To watch my boys - Bring me such joys - To root them on - Through right and wrong - To bounce right back - From heart attack - To never quit - Compete with grit - To breathe it in - Lose, tie, or win - To honor those - In glory rose - To play this game - Hallowed be thy name - To soccer, cheers - Here's to more years 〰️
Ball and Goal - a poem written by Kaiser Permanente Sr. Communications Consultant Alec Rosenberg, inspired by the day and the lyrical words of poet-athlete Crissler Thomas Velasquez.